Posted on 07/25/2006 7:36:09 PM PDT by Graybeard58
WASHINGTON -- In the hierarchy of military medals, the Bronze Star ranks in the top tier. But in the war on terror, some troops have been honored with the medal for going above and beyond the call of duty, while others received it for just getting the job done.
For example, the Bronze Star has been awarded to:
Army Lt. Col. Andrew MacDonald, Soldier Systems Center chief of staff, for leading a team of military and civilians in delivering equipment to troops in Iraq.
U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Patrick Burke for "transporting a hospital" from Pakistan to Afghanistan with "no pilferage or incident."
Marine Cmdr. Alan Hansen, deputy force chaplain, for fulfilling his role as adviser and confidant to service members of all faiths during his deployment in Iraq.
Navy Yeoman 1st Class Matthew S. Bryan for "repeatedly being under fire in Iraqi convoys," but also for planning a party -- the "Seabee Ball -- " in Baghdad.
Military experts offer some explanations for the difference in numbers. For one, military sociologist David R. Segal explained that for a service member to receive a Bronze Star, he or she must have been in "combat"; however, that word has changed in meaning.
"In the Korean War, the soldiers were in the front line fighting the enemy," said Segal, director of the Center for Research on Military Organization at the University of Maryland. "But in the Iraqi war, anybody who steps out on ground is considered to be 'in combat.'"
Another reason is that a close-knit infantry is fighting in the current wars, something different from previous wars. Military expert Paul Camacho said the solidarity of the soldiers easily catches the eye of the awards committee.
"There is quite a bit of heroism. Many soldiers (in Iraq) volunteer to continue to be overseas," said Camacho, director of special projects in the William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequence at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. "There is a lot of patriotism and camaraderie among soldiers because they are in units and get to know each other more."
The Army -- which awards the great majority of Bronze Stars -- stands behind the decisions of citing "meritorious achievement or service."
"The Soldier's chain of command is fully capable of reviewing the achievements behind each award and en½uring that adequate measures are in place for awards to be approved, commensurate with a Soldier's achievements," said Denise Harris, chief of policy for the Army Awards Branch in the Adjutant General Directorate, via e-mail.
The Bronze has lost its top-tier status for some soldiers as well. As Camacho pointed out, soldiers care more about getting the job done than receiving a decoration. Former Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot Rick Hinshaw was deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne from February 2003 to January 2004, and to Kuwait with 3rd Army HQ from August 2004 to January 2005. He received a Bronze Star, but already misplaced it.
"Most soldiers get a medal and forget about it and drive on with the mission. The people who draw attention to their medals are usually people with an agenda, and that infuriates most soldiers," Hinshaw said via e-mail.
Don't know about the other services, but in the Marine Corps, you can get a Bronze Star with a "V" that denotes earned in combat, without the "V" means you were in a combat zone but not in contact with the enemy....
Meadow Muffin
Most soldiers get a medal and forget about it and drive on with the mission. The people who draw attention to their medals are usually people with an agenda, and that infuriates most soldiers," Hinshaw said via e-mail.
The must be talking about that vietnam vet with all the "medals" and might be a senator
The "V" is for Valor. Means a lot more.
All Service can get one, if they did something of Valor.
Kerry would have loved this war if he were in it. Maybe he could have gotten the MOH.
My son got a commendation medal with the V. He deserved it because 200 hajies were shooting at his column and one of the NCO sitting beside him was killed. But the handing out of medals has always been more political than logical.
Check out this site and particullary read some of the citations from the civil war. Standards have actually risen since then for the CMOH.
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm
The fallacy with the bronze star is that it has a "V" (valor) device award and an award without the "V."
Essentially, it is the wartime equivalent of the Meritorious Service Medal, which it looks like.
It would be far preferable to award the bronze star only for combat valor, and to award the MSM for other wartime meritorious service with the narrative explaining its wartime connection. If nothing else, they can come up with a "C" (combat) device for the MSM.
As it is, they have seriously cheapened the bronze star.
After the first Gulf War, my armor battalion was going to submit about 15 medals in a unit with over 600 soldiers. Caused a lot of discussion among us LTs. Did someone doing their job deserve a medal. An LT thought the S3 deserved a medal for the job he did and listed his accomplishments. I said why? The list of accomplishments were part of the duties of being a field grad officer and being the S3. This is what the S3 had been trained to do.
Our units position on awards changed when we found out the Support Battalion was giving out Bronze Stars like candy.
Its an imperfect system and I personally don't like getting a new award. It means I have to spend $25.00 to get my rack redone.
Back in the civil war, there were no other awards except the Purple Heart. This is why so many MOHs were given.
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You nailed it. Of course, if your J Frikken Kerry, you can get a silver star with a V also.
Man, there's gotta be a better way to up-armor than this!
I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
He could probably get about five of them, if he could take Dan Rather's typewriter with him this time.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS.
Truer words have never been spoken. I witnessed the exact same thing.
In that war I saw that many company clerks, cooks, and other various flavors of R.E.M.F.s were awarded Bronze stars, Purple hearts, and other awards that could only be citated for being out in the bush (or in the air) with the Real Warriors...
On the other hand, I personally knew fellow grunts that performed Gallantly and never were so honored for being the true "Heroes" they were.
Goes to show ya, some things never change!
Besides all that, all those medals and a dime (whoa! That dates ME!) still only gets you a cup of coffee!
Not only is the article wrong about the way a Bronze Star is earned (see post 2) but the fact is undeserved medals are awarded in every war. I'm sure the MSM just wants people to think that Bush and his guys are giving them out like candy, having a (as Gary Trudeau once said about Grnada) Special Olympics of warfare.
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