I am sure the Air Force has tried......I mean, being a Protocol Officer for a 3 star is a very demanding and dangerous job.
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Medal of Honor criteria and award inflation
- Thread starter FLYTPAY
- Start date
Unfortunately, that is just the way it is. While there are intense moments in the current conflicts, much of the fire is indirect....
Last I heard one was still in the works for Army SSG David Bellavia. He discribes the action that has gotten him the nomination in his book House to House.
Wouldn't that water down the prestige/recognition given to the TOP honor in the military?
Not at all. I think it is a huge boost to morale whenever you see someone with "The Medal". There is an almost superhuman element to those who have earned it and it makes you appreciate not having gone through what they did. Face it, everyone likes chest candy but there are certain medals that you do not want to ever get....MOH, POW, Purple Heart......all involve great sacrifice.
Tell that to Admiral Stockdale, Colonel Day, or any of the other recipients who didn't receive it posthumously . . .
Yes. Unfortunately the actions which you typically recieve a CMOH for have a direct correlation with the likelihood of being killed commiting such actions.
Having to die in sacrifice for the MOH should surely keep all the weenies from trying to get the "coveted" billets that will enable them to add to their ribbon rack. That's what the Bronze Star is for right? I agree with another poster, if there's a way to get the MOH , Silver Star, DFC without out actually having to bleed, I'll bet the AF has submitted the paperwork.
I think that the military is actually being much stingier with at least the top 2 medals than it has in the past. To some extent, this is good, but in our rush to keep the integrity of these awards, we're making the MOH a "grenade jumping medal" vice a medal for warriors who've risked their lives exhibiting extreme valor. I think Lt Brian Chontosh's and SgtMaj Kasal's actions at least warranted MOH consideration. I don't think we've had an MOH winner since Vietnam who has actually survived his actions. A little more reasonableness on these two awards and a little more stinginess on Bronze Stars on down is warranted.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Phrog, that is exactly what I think as well.
From a Newsweek article last month (http://www.newsweek.com/id/107585):
"Only two other Iraq vets have received the Medal of Honor, compared with 245 GIs who fought in Vietnam and 464 in World War II. Lesser medals have also been in short supply. Pentagon officials say the disparity has to do with the nature of combat in Iraq: less face-to-face fighting and fewer occasions for valor."
"Number of Medals Awarded
World War I 124
World War II 464
Korean War 131
Vietnam War 245
GWOT 3"
It does suck. The guy in the article, btw, (Bellavia, wink) was put up for the DSC, then later told he was being considered for the MOH. A year later he was sent (in the mail) a Silver Star. I think that's the equivalent of the Pentagon flipping you the bird.
"Only two other Iraq vets have received the Medal of Honor, compared with 245 GIs who fought in Vietnam and 464 in World War II. Lesser medals have also been in short supply. Pentagon officials say the disparity has to do with the nature of combat in Iraq: less face-to-face fighting and fewer occasions for valor."
"Number of Medals Awarded
World War I 124
World War II 464
Korean War 131
Vietnam War 245
GWOT 3"
It does suck. The guy in the article, btw, (Bellavia, wink) was put up for the DSC, then later told he was being considered for the MOH. A year later he was sent (in the mail) a Silver Star. I think that's the equivalent of the Pentagon flipping you the bird.
I agree with you wholeheartedly Phrog. Since WWII the percentage of posthumous MOH awards has been steadily rising until now where everyone who has received it for actions since the end of Vietnam has been posthumous. If you read some of the awards from WWII, Korea and Vietnam where the person lived, their actions were equally heroic to those who died in almost all cases. And almost every award of the MOH since 1941 is definitely deserved (except maybe MacArthur's, and a tiny number of others). There were even a few who lived when they did jump on the grenade, or drag a burning phosphorus bomb out of a B-29, etc.
As a comparison, there have been two awards of the Victoria Cross (one for the UK and one for New Zealand) and three awards of the George Cross (the non-enemy action equivalent of the VC) for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan and only one of the awards were posthumous, the rest survived the actions for which they were decorated. And both of those awards are just as prestigious as the MOH.
It is just a concerned observation, I hope it is not a permanent trend.
As a comparison, there have been two awards of the Victoria Cross (one for the UK and one for New Zealand) and three awards of the George Cross (the non-enemy action equivalent of the VC) for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan and only one of the awards were posthumous, the rest survived the actions for which they were decorated. And both of those awards are just as prestigious as the MOH.
It is just a concerned observation, I hope it is not a permanent trend.
I knew Capt. Chontosh when I was at TBS. He was instructing at the Infantry Officer's Course at the time. The man was down right scary.
The talk of PAOs getting bronze stars just pains me. When we think of the LCpls and Specialists who are in it everyday and get nothing more than a pat on the back. Phrog, I'm with you on all of it.
The talk of PAOs getting bronze stars just pains me. When we think of the LCpls and Specialists who are in it everyday and get nothing more than a pat on the back. Phrog, I'm with you on all of it.
eaw75
Member
Phrog,
I would add this Marine to the list of MOH considerations as well:
http://www.defenselink.mil/home/faceofdefense/fod/2006-08/f20060804a.html
I would add this Marine to the list of MOH considerations as well:
http://www.defenselink.mil/home/faceofdefense/fod/2006-08/f20060804a.html
You may very well be correct, but I don't think that this is the particular thread to debate it. I'm a threadjacking mofo, but perhaps we can get this one back on track.
Incredible bravery and selflessness by Mike Monsoor. We are forever in his debt.