Few Medals of Honor given for Iraq, Afghan wars

AP via Breitbart ^ | Aug 01, 2009 | By KEVIN FREKING

[Jet Jaguar]

Eight years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. About 4,000 members of the U.S. military killed in action. More than 34,000 wounded. Just six considered worthy of America's highest military award for battlefield valor. For some veterans and members of Congress, that last number doesn't add up.

They question how so few Medals of Honor—all awarded posthumously—could be bestowed for wars of such magnitude and duration.

Pentagon officials say the nature of war has changed. Laser-guided missiles destroy enemy positions without putting soldiers in harm's way. Insurgents deploy roadside bombs rather than engage in firefights they're certain to lose.

Those explanations don't tell the whole story, said Rep. Duncan Hunter, a first-term lawmaker who served combat tours as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has sponsored legislation that directs the defense secretary to review current trends in awarding the Medal of Honor to determine what's behind the low count.

The bill passed the House. If Senate negotiators go along, Secretary Robert Gates would have to report back by March 31.

"It seems like our collective standard for who gets the Medal of Honor has been raised," said Hunter, R-Calif.

"The basis of warfare is you've got to take ground and then you've got to hold it. That takes people walking into houses, running up hills, killing bad guys and then staying there and rebuffing counterattacks," he said. "That's how warfare has always been no matter how many bombs you drop and how many predators you have flying around."

Military officials said they welcome the opportunity to conduct an in-depth review of the award process. Still, they dispute Hunter's theory.

[DieHard the Hunter]

Is there a case to be made to award more MoH’s?

I believe only two Victoria Crosses have been awarded for the current conflict (there might be one or two I’m not aware of, but even so there aren’t many).

[Islaminaction]

Doesn’t seem like our government cares about our troops too much, does it?

[Lauren BaRecall]

I bet these “military officials” are a bunch of civilian bureaucrats.

[JimSEA]

Go ahead, name five heroes from media reports. Tragic deaths, murderers, rapists, torturers are media worthy. The heroism of our troops is largely ignored. Slime sells and elects Obamas.

Word of mouth will be the only way most soldiers will get their due.

[GreenLanternCorps]

DieHard, there have been four VC’s awarded for both the Iraq and Afgan wars.

UK:

Lance-Corporal Johnson Beharry, Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, Iraq

Corporal Bryan Budd, Parachute Regiment, Afghanistan (Posthumous)

Australia:

Trooper Mark Donaldson, Special Air Service, Afghanistan

New Zealand:

Lance-Corporal Willie Apiata, Special Air Service, Afghanistan

[GreenLanternCorps]

Given the ratio of award of the VC versus the Medal of Honor,

and given that both medals have essentially the same criteria,

and the fact that all of the Medals of Honor given for the present war have been posthumous,

Then I can only conclude that the US is being stingy in awarding the Medal of Honor to deserving recipients.

[Jet Jaguar]

AF Cross recipient called a hero
Airman gets Cross for bravery in 2008 Afghanistan battle

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/03/airforce_rhyner_afcross_030809w/

Marine Hero to Be Decorated for His Bravery

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/may/01/local/me-cross1

[Jet Jaguar]

Agreed.

[DakotaRed]

As much as I like Duncan Hunter and his Dad, sorry, but het Medal of Honor is not handed out on a quota basis.

Before he can make his claim, maybe he should see how many were recommended and degraded to a lower Medal.

[12Gauge687]

Although reported as receiving the MoH, the following names are hardly ingrained in the minds of the media:

Dunham, Jason L., CPL USMC Iraq
McGinnis, Ross A., PFC USA Iraq
Monsoor, Michael A., MAA2 USN Iraq
Murphy, Michael, LT USN Afghanistan
Smith, Paul R. SFC USA Iraq

[DieHard the Hunter]

Thanks for the correction — I was aware of the Australia and New Zealand awards but did not know about the two from the UK.

I saw Lance Corporal Willie Apiata VC’s book in the book store yesterday. It looks to be an excellent read.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Then I can only conclude that the US is being stingy in awarding the Medal of Honor to deserving recipients.

That might be a fair conclusion.

[ccmay]

Funny how it goes. Medals of Honor were handed out like lollipops in the Civil War and Indian Wars, but have got much more rare in recent conflicts. On the other hand, there is no shortage of lesser awards that allow a paper pusher who's never fired a shot in anger to retire with a full fruit salad on his chest.

My grandfather was recommended for a (British Army) Distinguished Conduct Medal, just one step below the Victoria Cross, in 1916. However, some REMF in Whitehall decided that too many had already been given out, and *all* pending DCM recommendations were converted to the Military Medal willy-nilly.

Seems to me they ought to settle on easily identifiable qualifications and stick with them.

[444Flyer]

3 tours in the M.E. with the U.S.M.C. and I'll bet Duncan D. knows a thing or two about what is up. God bless him in his efforts to bring this to public light.