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To be clear, of course she deserves the Purple Heart. What bothers me is that she seems to be getting a medal solely for being a pretty white woman. What about the Apache pilot who was a POW? He's a man. What about the black lady who was a POW? She's black. I'm not saying that the Army takes that view, they are giving her the medal because she became a celebrity. But the reason she became a celebrity over the others is because she is a cute white woman. Oh, also because she lived. Her comrades who died did not have the opportunity to be POW's and celebrities, so they don't get any medals.

But hey, watch what is going to happen here. People will go absolutley nuts that by not favoring a bronze star for her, that we are attacking her. They will completely ignore that the awarding of a medal to someone who is undeserving is a much greater slur to those who died to earn theirs and those who did far more yet received nothing.

She was given the medal precisely to put a feather in the cap of people who want non-combatant females on the front lines where they are more likely to be captured, tortured and raped.

Supposedly she tried to fight but her gun jammed. That's worth a bronze star these days?

"What about the black lady who was a POW?"

THE "black lady" has a name: Shoshana Johnson. She received the same awards as Pfc. Lynch: Purple Heart, POW Medal and Bronze Star. All easy info to find, right here on FR.

ALL the members of the 507th Maintenance who returned (including the "black lady") recieved the Bronze Star (BSM)- some with the "V" for valor, with the exception of one PFC who received the Silver Star. I'm sure that the Apache pilots were also decorated.

ALL recipients of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) from WW2 were retroactively awarded the BSM( without the "V" ) after the war. I don't know if this practise was extended to CIB vets of Korea and beyond.

One of the reasons the Meritorious Service Medal was created was the over awarding of the BSM in Vietnam - most every junior officer I know who served in the rear at LB in supply/legal/etc. roles has one w/o the "V".

My point is - why not these folks - the BSM has been awarded for far less.

The Purple Heart is awarded for "injuries received in combat with the enemy" - can be a gunshot, a car wreck, or broken glass from a "bunker dive" during a rocket attack ( I've seen that ). You can get one from a "reported" wound - I have one from a TIF (Treated in the Field) scratch - small sliver removed with tweezers, peroxide, a tetanus shot, bandaid. I know guys who had half a dozen TIF's which went unreported at their request to their medical corpsman, since 3 PH's got you sent to the rear and perhaps home - I tried but without success.

The POW Medal - even 15 minutes as a POW gets you this one.

It's interesting to see the creeps over at DU struggle with this - claiming to care for "our troops", but "conflicted" by their elitist disdain for all things military.

ESAD to DU !!!

Oh, come on Rodney. I see your point about the Bronze Star, but to say it's because she is white is silly. Cute, yes. Celebrity, yes. Do you not think Halle Berri (sp) would have drawn as much or more of the cutness attention? Let's keep this forum clean.

You have issues.

You are correct that all those who serve deserve recognition. Not all get it but usually it is because their command or senior leadership is either to busy to write up the awards or their actions are not brought to the attention of the command. Sometimes its due to modesty, sometimes its because there is a feeling that others may be more deserving.

The fact that some deserving individuals may be overlooked in the system does not take away from the sacrifice of those individuals whose commands do recognize them.

I do not see this as political, though no doubt attention to the capture of Ms Lynch could not be avoided. No one on this forum who has not served or was not there to witness her actions has any basis to claim she is undeserving.

As for the other POWs and KIA, you needn't worry about a double standard. They too will receive awards for their sacrifice (or their survivors will) and it is a very small, though appreciated, reward for their unselfish service.

And if she were black or other minority, would you be saying that just because of her minority status she was awarded a medal? Shame on you---we need young people who have the initiative to join the armed service to advance their prospects in life and Jessica is a shining example of a good American woman. She is so far above you losers who have for several days now rained on her parade that every time any of you post it is an embarrassment to read. Viva Jessica Lynch!

I've read your post and understand where you are coming from. I haven't read the after action report regarding the 507th, but I will add a little perspective...

I got an ARCom for getting a butterball out of country after he was arrested for smoking hash. I contained a serious diplomatic incident. Did I deserve it? Probably not, but sometimes we don't know the whole story or all of the ramifications.

5.56mm