Here is the article which challenged Murtha's medals.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=%5CSpecialReports%5Carchive%5C200601%5CSPE20060113a.html
As Murtha has chosen to keep his record secret, we can't know whether Congressman Bailey (the guy claiming Murtha's PHs are bogus), or Murtha, is correct.
Murtha "volunteered for service in Vietnam and was a First Marine Regiment intelligence officer in 1966 and 1967." While Murtha supporters say he did two tours, Murtha himself says one. A regimental intelligence officer is not a combat leader and is not usually in the forefront of fighting. But only Murtha knows if he was a usual intel officer or an exception.
"I volunteered for a year's duty in Vietnam. I was out in the field almost every single day. We took heavy casualties in my regiment the year that I was there. In my fitness reports, I was rated No. 1. My record is clear," Murtha said.
From the CNS story:
"World War II Navy veteran Harry M. Fox, previously indicated that Murtha in 1968 personally asked Fox's boss, then-U.S. Rep. John Saylor (R-Pa.), for assistance in obtaining the Purple Hearts, but was turned down because Saylor's office determined that Murtha lacked sufficient evidence of wounds. Murtha later challenged Saylor for his House seat in 1968 and lost. Fox said he personally viewed Murtha's military records in 1968 as Saylor's aide."
The Bronze Star Murtha has is not a valor award, but a routine award for staff officers in a combat THEATER. I think Murtha is a Vietnam Vet who was present when some combat was going on. Kinda like Kerry.
The press will still report he was a Vietnam "Hero" and will still report that he was a supporter of the war who turned against it, neither of which report is true. But I think we need to recognize he did legitimately go to Vietnam, voluntarily, and he did serve out a career in the USMC Reserve (for which he is now drawing a fat retirment check, mind).
He ran in 1974 as an anti-military guy and he's always voted as an anti-military guy. I dunno where he suddenly became the Democrats' war hawk, unless they're completely out of Scoop Jackson/Sam Nunn/Carl Vinson types with any credibility on defense -- which is probably the case.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Thanks for the informative post.