[Kerry Band of Brothers] Wade R. Sanders: Forgotten Heroes (No Statute of Limitations on Medals)

Military.com ^ | 12/23/03 | Wade R. Sanders

[conservative in nyc]

Wade R. Sanders: Forgotten Heroes

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December 23, 2003

The crucible of war is often the ultimate test of human courage. From that searing process emerge those few who went beyond duty and displayed significant courage. Some of these men and women are recognized for their courage by enlightened leaders and a grateful nation. That recognition often comes in the form of medals, from Commendation Medals, the Bronze Star, and upward to the Medal of Honor. Others receive medals that celebrate their exceptional accomplishment in the completion of their non-combat assignments. A few of these men and women earned their medals for individual acts; but most earned them as part of a team.

During my service in Vietnam, and since, I have noticed that too few team leaders (particularly officers) fail to fulfill their primary duty of taking care of their troops by providing them with recognition for their courage and professionalism. Too often the members of that team are forgotten by the officers who receive medals for being in the same place at the same time doing the same thing. More often this sin is one of neglect, not mean spiritedness…many just wanted to put the war behind them and get on with their lives. However, I may be a bit more sensitive to this issue because I was a "mustang," a Naval Officer who started in the enlisted ranks (as did my father), and my father repeatedly reminded me where my primary duty lay.

During my tour in Vietnam aboard Navy patrol boats I was part of a six man team, five enlisted and myself as the boat commander. We experienced intense combat together; we fought and shed blood together: were a team of brothers. Some of us were wounded, and some of us did not come home. Because we (note the "we") performed with distinction in combat, I was singled out and awarded a number of personal decorations for our combat performance. I remembered my father's words; I understood that my medals were not solely mine. If I hadn't had each of my brave men with me, "we" would not have prevailed. So I made sure that each of my crew members were recognized for their bravery and I recommended them for their awards. I thought that this was the right thing to do, and I believed that everyone else did as well. I was wrong.

What I discovered was that many of my fellow boat officers had failed to recognize that they were part of a team and had neglected to take care of that team. (Of course, this syndrome is not restricted to the combat zone or to the military culture, but that's another article). This struck me hard about six months ago in the den of a Vietnam Veteran I had served with. This man had served two tours in Vietnam, including a year with aboard a patrol boat with an officer who received several of our nation's highest awards for heroism and gallantry in action. This former enlisted man had stood by that officer in the same combat, exposed himself to the same risk, was part of the same team that prevailed, and his officer left him behind with nothing but a Purple Heart. To my mind this is a terrible injustice.

Since I belong to an association of those who served in Navy patrol boats in Vietnam, I decided to see if I could improve the situation. After all, the one mantra that was ingrained into me by my father, and by the traditions of my service, was that my number one responsibility as an officer is to take care of my men (or women, to be contemporarily correct). So, I did a bit of research and discovered that there is no statute of limitations on awards. I found the office in the Pentagon that deals with awards, and I got the guidance I needed. The process is simple. An officer in charge of a unit is fully authorized to recommend any member of his "command" for a military decoration. Thinking this information would be of us, I requested to have it published in our quarterly newsletter. That's when the fecal matter hit the fan.

Not only was the information not well received by a surprising number of officers, it stirred up a backlash of resentment that shocked me. It was as if I was not merely passing information to enable officers to fix what they may have forgotten, it was as if I was personally accusing them of deliberately avoiding their responsibility. What I received was not gratitude, what I received was anger and resentment. However, the enlisted folks "got it."

So, I send this message to all military officers. It is never too late to do the right thing. If you feel you may have forgotten your men or women, you can still rectify that by contacting the office in your service responsible for processing military awards. For those of us from the Vietnam era and before, time is running out. Just a year ago I helped a friend of mine facilitate the awarding of a Distinguished Flying Cross to an 84 year old former B-24 tail gunner. I will never forget the look on that man's face as he joined the other members of his crew who had received the same medal nearly sixty years before.

I often recall the words of General George S. Patton in response to a member of the press. Struck by the magnificent display on the General's chest, the reporter commented, "You must be very proud of all your medals, General."

"Son, these medals are not mine, I wear them for the men who earned them."

Wade Sanders is a former deputy assistant secretary of the Navy, a decorated combat veteran and attorney practicing in San Diego. He can be reached at wade2000@cox.net.

[conservative in nyc]

One of Kerry's Band of Brothers has written columns for Military.com, largely critical of George Bush and the war in Iraq. That's not unexpected: he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for the Reserves under Clinton.

He doesn't question John Kerry's medals. But he's not above questioning OTHER people's medals. Here's another gem from a December 13, 2003 column:

The military has been particularly guilty of their abuse of the term of “hero” and their dispensing of medals traditionally reserved for heroes. They are rapidly cheapening the symbolic value of medals such as the Silver Star (which is to be awarded for gallantry in action) and the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device (a bronze “v” device which graces the medal and the ribbon, and is commonly referred to as the “combat ‘v’” and which is normally reserved for heroic achievement). PFC Jessica Lynch, injured in an automobile accident and well cared for by her captors received the Bronze Star with combat “v,” is only one example of this abuse. Any one who has served in combat can cite numerous cases of truly heroic men and women who performed heroically in the face of fire and received either nothing, or a much lesser award.

[conservative in nyc]

One typo -- December 13, 2003 = December 16, 2003 column.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Wade Sanders is member of Kerry's Band of Traitors and a contributor to The New Soldier.
He was in the vanguard of Kerry's slime machine.

Page 69 " Unfit For Command "

" In emails on May 3,2004 and May 7,2004, trying to dissuade Swiftees from joining Admiral Hoffman,Wade Sanders referred to the group as ' bitter drunks,' something the sailors involved deeply resented."

[SandRat]

and another! the shots just keep coming.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[blue-duncan]

This silly SOB thinks it is more important for the squad leader to approve medals to keep up morale and ignores the importance of leaders completing their tour of duty and not running out on the squad at the earliest opportunity.

His priorities are messed up. I can see why he was chosen to be in Clinton's administration and why he is so loyal to Kerry. It's the show more than the go!

[Just mythoughts]

A writer for Militry.com... these guys are planted everywhere.

[conservative in nyc]

This struck me hard about six months ago in the den of a Vietnam Veteran I had served with. This man had served two tours in Vietnam, including a year with aboard a patrol boat with an officer who received several of our nation's highest awards for heroism and gallantry in action. This former enlisted man had stood by that officer in the same combat, exposed himself to the same risk, was part of the same team that prevailed, and his officer left him behind with nothing but a Purple Heart. To my mind this is a terrible injustice.

Was the person who received the medal one of Kerry's Band of Brothers?

[KeyLargo]

This person has sold out to the Democrats just as a few other former military officers have done. They have nothing but high praise for Kerry .

I can only assume that these men are anticipating being rewarded with a cushy government job in the Kerry administration.

[blue-duncan]

Probably not since that would be Kerry. It must not be anyone involved in the "Unfit" situation or he would have mentioned names.

[freddiedavis]

bump TO SUPPORT THE NEW SWIFT VETS AD AND GEORGE BUSH... http://swift2.he.net/~swift2/gardner2.mpg

[zot]

When was Wade Sanders a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy? Was it during the same time John Lehman was Secretary of the Navy?

On another thread, John Lehman is quoted as saying he didn't sign his name on the third version of Jonn Kerry's citation for the Silver Star although the citation does have John Lehman's signature at the bottom.

It seems possible that Wade Sanders signed the third version of John Kerry's Silver Star citation using John Lehman's signature machine.

[conservative in nyc]

Wade Sanders was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the Clinton administration:

http://clinton6.nara.gov/1993/07/1993-07-22-todays-appointments.html

[zot]

OK, where was he while John Lehman was Secretary of the Navy?

The thread I mentioned is:

http://www.FreeRepublic.com/focus/f-news/1201664/posts

[sonofatpatcher2]

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[DustyMoment]

As a Navy enlisted man and the offspring of an AF officer, I have seen this cult of "my medals" and screw the enlisted folks.

I saw it in my squadron where we worked hard to achieve various and sundry awards "as a squadron", only to see the officers getting all the accolades. We, generally, got an inspection (AKA "the shaft"). Big woop.

It is rare, especially in the politicized atmosphere of the officer corps, for the officers to consider their men (or women) when it comes time to share the glory. That's not to say that it doesn't happen, just that it's rare.

[ravinson]

It seems possible that Wade Sanders signed the third version of John Kerry's Silver Star citation using John Lehman's signature machine.

You may be on to something there, but I would think that Sanders would be knowledgable enough about Navy regulations not to include the mysterious "v" in Kerry's silver star. And keep in mind that when a Senator is involved, getting favors from any Presidential Administration is pretty simple. Maybe someone in Lehman's office really did complete the paperwork and was just sloppy -- or perhaps he was intentionally putting a stealthy red flag in the new citation.