A highly decorated veteran and a decorated veteran are BOTH decorated veterans. The difference being that a highly decorated veteran received higher decorations than a decorated veteran.
Marvin Lee Aday - aka the singer MeatLoaf '...was the first child of Wilma Artie (née Hukel), a school teacher and a member of the Vo-di-o-do Girls gospel quartet, and Orvis Wesley Aday...' Source:...