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Vietnam soldiers to receive Medal of Honor
AP via Yahoo News ^ | 9/15/14 | DARLENE SUPERVILLE

Posted on 09/15/2014 12:30:27 PM PDT by Kartographer

Congress granted an exemption so Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins and Army Spc. Donald P. Sloat could receive the medal, because recommendations typically must be made within two years of the act of heroism, and the medal presented within three.

A soldier who fought in the Civil War was expected to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously at a later date. First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing died in July 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Adkins, who served 22 years and lives in Opelika, Alabama, planned to attend the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House. Adkins was deployed three times to Vietnam with the Special Forces and was being recognized for actions during his second combat tour, in 1966, when he ran wounded through enemy fire to drag injured comrades to safety.

Sloat, of Coweta, Oklahoma, was killed in action on Jan. 17, 1970, at age 20. While on patrol, a soldier in his squad triggered a hand grenade trap that had been placed in their path by enemy forces. According to the White House, Sloat picked up the live grenade, initially to throw it away. When he realized it was about to detonate, he shielded the blast with his own body in order to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS:
Thank you Gentlemen for your service.
1 posted on 09/15/2014 12:30:27 PM PDT by Kartographer
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To: Kartographer

Why is Obama giving so many Medals of Honor ,did he change the rules ?


2 posted on 09/15/2014 12:43:06 PM PDT by molson209 (Blank)
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To: Kartographer
God Bless these veterans for receiving the highest military honors a grateful nation can give. This writer needs a bit of a grammar lesson I think. Shouldn't the title say “Vietnam veterans to receive Medal Of Honor''? Just askin'
3 posted on 09/15/2014 1:09:05 PM PDT by jmacusa (Liberalism defined: When mom and dad go away for the weekend and the kids are in charge.)
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To: Kartographer

Read the Wikipedia entry for Alonzo Cushing. The man literally fought to the death while holding his guts in with one hand!

If ever there was a definition of “above and beyond the call,” he was it.

It’s just regrettable that such a worthy recipient is to be honored by such an unworthy “commander.”


4 posted on 09/15/2014 1:12:02 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: Kartographer

Bravery like that renders me speechless...and damn thankful to live in the finest country on earth.


5 posted on 09/15/2014 1:35:08 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Islamopobia:The Irrational Fear Of Being Beheaded)
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To: jmacusa

I am sorry I don’t answer grammar and spell questions as I don’t wish to be arrested for impersonating a FR ‘English Policeman’. ;-)


6 posted on 09/15/2014 1:35:09 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: molson209
I speculate that 0bama is somehow trying to curry favor with the military; trying to show that he does not hate veterans or currently serving servicemen.

It's a doomed effort ... he can hand out medals 'til the cows come home, we still know that he's a communist third-world islamist traitor.

7 posted on 09/15/2014 1:38:59 PM PDT by NorthMountain
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To: NorthMountain

I have a cousin who was killed in Dinh Binh in 1970, he received two medals from Vietnam for individual heroism in combat. The only one he received from the USA was a purple heart....posthumously.


8 posted on 09/15/2014 3:08:41 PM PDT by nobamanomore
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To: Kartographer

An “English Policeman’’? I say, by chance do you mean a ‘’Bobbie’’? :-)


9 posted on 09/15/2014 4:59:36 PM PDT by jmacusa (Liberalism defined: When mom and dad go away for the weekend and the kids are in charge.)
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To: molson209

The rules are set by Congress. That’s why it’s the Congressional Medal of Honor.


10 posted on 09/15/2014 5:01:35 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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