Posted on 05/21/2004 6:59:11 AM PDT by Military family member
The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Dick Lugar that will create separate campaign medals for American soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is a long-standing tradition for members of the armed forces who have served in conflicts overseas to have their service recognized with a medal. The Pentagon initially has proposed honoring servicemen and women who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan with the "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal," which recognizes any overseas service in support of anti-terrorism operations, regardless of location.
This legislation reflects the belief of Senator Lugar and other members of Congress that the wars being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve special recognition. It authorizes the creation of unique campaign medals denoting service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"Soldiers who have been apart from their families, in harms way and often in very tough conditions, deserve special recognition for their sacrifice," said Lugar, who served in the Navy from 1957-1960. "It is my hope that the men and women who become eligible for this award understand the pride and appreciation Americans have for their service."
In the early 1990s, during Operation Desert Storm, service members received three separate military decorations for their service: the Southwest Asia Service Medal and medals from the Kuwaiti and Saudi governments. For service in Kosovo, servicemen and women received the NATO Service Medal and the Kosovo Campaign Medal.
Lugar was one of the first members of Congress to call for unique medals denoting service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last September he joined with Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) in introducing legislation authorizing an Iraqi Liberation Medal. That bill prompted discussion of the matter in both the House and Senate. The effort gained momentum this spring when similar legislation passed unanimously in the House.
Will they be medals, or will they be ribbons?
Are they going to put together a commission to really study this?
It will be a medal plus a corresponding ribbon will most likely be given.
Some of it is a formality, but some of it is necessary to determine:
1. The appearance of the ribbon.
2. Precedence.
3. Eligibility: How long do you have to serve in the combat theater in order to be awarded the ribbon?
Without the formalities, we'd be seeing numerous incidents of servicemembers wearing unauthorized ribbons because of the lack of clarity. Think of a certain loud-mouthed former soldier who thought the could get away with wearing a Ranger tab he didn't earn.
There are numerous loud mouthed former soldiers out there. Who was the one of whom you speak?
If Kerry applies for one, I'm gonna spit!
Uh his nick name is sometimes used, or was in the past, for taxi.
On one hand, I understand the need to recognize service in Iraq and Afghanistan separately. On the other hand, there has been some politicizing of the issue because the Dems have tried to separate the two theaters of the WOT. According to them, Afghanistan is the good war and Iraq is the bad war.
If Kerry becomes Commander in Chief just imagine how many more Purple Hearts he will accumalate... bike accident...ski fall...wife slapped me in the green room.
Or, more specifically, his nickname refers to a writer with limited capablilites ;)
Yep that too
Great posts on this topic. President Bush just signed this Bill into Public Law (P.L. 108-234) on 28 May 2004. Next step is medal design by the Institute of Heraldry. The SecDef and Joint Chiefs of Staff then determine eligibility requirements. Timeline may be similar to the recently awarded Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, authorized by Exec Order on 12 March 2003 and finally awarded by individual service chiefs on 19 March 2004.
The original version of the Bill to award separate campaign medals for Iraq and Afghanistan was passed by the House last August 2003, but was killed by the Senate 49-48. It took a second attempt by House Rep. Vic Snyder (AR) and 103 House co-authors to re-write the Bill (H.R. 3104) to get this through the Senate a second time (Senate vote this time was unamimous 98-0, with John Kerry (D-MA) and Dan Inouye (D-HI) not voting).
Although recognition for specific theater combat service is appreciated, it is hoped that our citizens realize that Iraqi Freedom and/or Enduring Freedom Vet's did not initiate these medal games. Even us 3-war Vets would gladly do our duty again without any medals at all. Semper Fidelis.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.