The only thing I find shocking about the whole thing is that anybody could be shocked by “medal inflation” at this stage of the game.
I was in the rear with the gear during most of OIF the first. Compared to my father, who was an honest-to-God combat infantryman in WWII with the 28th Division, I have a colorful chest. In fact, when I compared my copious medals and ribbons to his, I felt like a Cold War Politburo peacock.
Granted, the 28th was pretty sparse with the decorations because a lot of the valor shown was in actions the Army would just as soon forget, with many of the witnesses dead or POWs before they could write them up, but it’s still crazy to me that I have far more REMF awards than my father got as a WWII combat guy.
I remember in the late 80’s or early 90’s, being somewhat proud of a Navy Achievement Medal I got for busting my butt on an operation. Awhile later I stood in formation while a recruiting officer explained that if we referred one warm body that enlisted to him, we’d get a USMC windbreaker and a letter of commendation. Two bodies got you a Navy Achievement Medal and windbreaker. Three got you the jacket, the NAM and a coffee mug.
That NAM lost a lot of luster for me right then and there.
Later on as a SNCO I saw officers kicking around the “Who gets what” question with what amounted to a quota of decorations. I’ve heard the USMC was fairly stingy with awards compared to some of the other services, so a Bronze Star wasn’t a standard end of tour award, but there were one or two waiting for the top performers. There were unwritten but openly discussed rules about certain awards being for officers and others being for enlisted. It was really nauseating.
In fairness to the system, these weren’t “V” combat decorations. In fairness to those being awarded, refusing an award due to reservations about “medal inflation” would be an unwise career move.
Still, it’s gotten pretty silly if you try to compare the awards of earlier eras to what happened when I was in, and that’s getting close to a decade past.
Even back in WWII, General MacArthur was awarded a MoH for what amounted to political and morale reasons when ordinary soldiers had to give up life and limb to get lesser awards.
Good post.....the awards and decorations program has been abused and needs to be reigned in . When everyone gets an award is it really an award per se ?
Thanks to your Father and you for your service. Similar experiences during my service career. Papered poodles from the pentagon with polished pendants that have never crossed the pond should be ashamed to wear any battle ribbon.
Again just my opinion .... Stay Safe !