re: Who here has seen combat?

Sorry bud, not true. A CIB can be awarded to an infantryman that received fire,there is no requirement for the individual to return fire.

From the HRC website:

A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or Special Forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. The unit in question can be of any size smaller than brigade.

(LINK )

And according to AR 600-8.22:

For award of the CIB a Soldier must meet the following three requirements:

(1) Be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties.

(2) Assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat.

(3) Actively participate in such ground combat. Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the CIB.

Bottom line, you can get a CIB for receiving indirect, or after an IED strike.