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DevilC
Location: Washington, District of Corruption Gender: Male Total Likes: 202 likes
I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their views.
| | | | Serving at high risk, and no medals to show for it < on 11/16/2006 7:35 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | The undecorated Nov 16th 2006 | WASHINGTON, DC From The Economist print edition Serving at high risk, and no medals to show for it IN APRIL 2004, an Iraqi insurgent fighting hand-to-hand with American marines pulled a grenade. Corporal Jason Dunham covered the grenade with a helmet and the helmet with his body. He sustained severe injuries and died eight days later. “If it was not for him, none of us would be here,” said Kelly Miller, one of several marines who survived the blast. On November 10th, George Bush announced that Corporal Dunham would receive the Medal of Honour, America's highest military award. It was the 231st birthday of the Marine Corps, and would have been Dunham's 25th. He is only the second combatant of the Iraq war to be recognised with the medal. Army sergeant Paul Ray Smith won one in 2005, also posthumously. Though most people have little idea of the relative prestige of various medals, veterans take awards for valour seriously and have noticed that comparatively few of the top ones have been issued recently. Anyone on active duty since the September 11th 2001 attacks can get the National Defence Service medal. And in 2003, George Bush authorised the Global War on Terror Service Medal. Medals that specifically reward heroics are much harder to come by. More than 21,000 veterans won coveted Silver Stars in Vietnam. Only a few hundred servicemen have received the same in Iraq and Afghanistan. The scarcity of medals has also been blamed for the current shortage of American heroes. Only two soldiers, Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman, have become household names during the course of the war. Both served with honour but without much chance for heroics. Ms Lynch was injured and captured by Iraqi forces, and Tillman was killed by friendly fire. If the services gave more medals, the bravery of the troops might be more widely publicised. Before the war on terror, no one complained that medals were too hard to come by. If anything, the military was accused of giving out too many. In 2003, army officials warned field commanders to save their top honours for soldiers “who truly distinguish themselves”. And just before the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, the Pentagon announced that it would take a look at its awards process. The review will take several more months to complete. In the meantime, valour will have to remain its own reward.
| Science flies you to the Moon. Religion flies you into tall buildings. |
| WuffyFluff
Location: Large Crossing, Colorado Gender: Male Total Likes: 0 likes
Time is Not to be Wasted, But Used - WuffyFluff
| | | | Re: Serving at high risk, and no medals to show for it < Reply # 4 on 1/14/2008 6:28 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | If medals and awards are a measure of our prowess and whatnot, then I can be considered a do-nothing lazy REMF who never leaves his office. and the (only) female sergeant over in the command/operations center, who only leaves said building to goto chow and barracks, is a combat veteran, because in the 13 months we've been here she has gotten an Army Achievement medal, and Army Commendation Medal, and now a Bronze Star, as well as a CAB. Yet in my platoon, which goes out everyday on missions, sometimes for over 3 days, only 4 people have received medals/awards. One received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously, two received Purple Hearts for wounds sustained during mortar attacks, and one received a CIB from the same incident in which our friend died. Of course the dickshit that got the CIB didn't even do shit, but hey, thats life. the whole medals/awards thing is complete anbd utter bullshit for the most part, especially when "Fobbits" who never leave the base, are getting more *combat* awards then infantry soldiers who are actually getting shot at or blown up.
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| rz350 This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: toronto Gender: Male Total Likes: 0 likes
The looniest, zaniest, spontaneous, sporadic Impulsive thinker, compulsive drinker, addict
| | | Re: Serving at high risk, and no medals to show for it < Reply # 9 on 1/18/2008 7:03 AM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by eoghan The US military has warrant officers.
| They dont fill the same roll as the Canadian Warrant Officer does. Unlike USA, we dont have OVER 9000 grades of Sergeant, we only have one. After Sergeant you become Warrant Officer, then Master Warrant Officer, then Chief Warrant Officer. Unlike the USA, you can not enroll directly as a warrant officer. (i.e. like US army helicopter pilots for example) Its a different role/status. Its directly in the hierarchy of the Enlisted/NCO ranks, and is not really a separate or different role.
| ducky 999 |
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