Army Staff Sergeant nominated for Medal of Honor

Email ^ | Unknown | Unknown

[Wolverine]

Gerber tactical blade

 

[usmcobra]

For sure we would not be in tune.

Nor do I try, why ruin the essence of karaoke.

Re reading this account (I had to run an Army to Marine translator several times to get it right) I’d have to say that if this Soldier is somehow found unworthy of it by Congress we should vote to recall every last one of those useless SOB’s and give each a gerber fighting Knife and drop them off at Mookie’s front door.

[cpdiii]

There are not words that can properly describe the actions of this hero. All I can say is "Thank You Sergent Bellavia and you are one hell of man."

[freema]

Good question, girlene. Yes, it “could” be the first for Fallujah,

Army SSG David Bellavia
for November 2004 Fallujah, Iraq
(Bellavia is also a founding member of Vets for Freedom http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1992777/posts)

Sgt. Rafael Peralta’s family is still waiting:
November 2004 Fallujah, Iraq
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Jan/22/ln/hawaii801220364.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only three have been awarded in the WOT:

Army Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
awarded April 2005 for April 2003 - Baghdad, Iraq
http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/smith/citation/index.html

Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham
awarded January 2007 for April 2004 - near the Syrian border, Iraq

Navy Lt. Michael P. Murphy
awarded October 2007 for June 2005 - Asadabad, Afghanistan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Of the three recipients and two nominees listed, only Bellavia is alive.

[mad_as_he$$]

I agree. Especially with such a detailed account.

[USMCPOP]

I note the date, 10 Nov. 2004. Here’s another MOH nominee from action on that very same day. 19 year old Chris Adlesperger took out at least 11 bad guys. Sadly, he was killed a month later. He did finally receive the Navy Cross.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/10/21/news/top_stories/22_49_1010_20_06.txt

I hope this SSgt. is duly recognized.

[Americanexpat]

We have five to seven seconds after you pull the pin on a grenade before it explodes. This has given the enemy time to pick it up and toss it back at you before it detonates, This is why a lot of combat soldiers and marines used to let it cook off for one or two seconds before throwing it. I know for a fact the enemy was doinhg the same. For a man to throw himself on a grenade to save his friends is indeed brave and above the call of duty.

[Fractal Trader]

During the course of my time in the military, I met many officers who had bronze and silver stars. If you dig a little into their background (most were too modest to talk about their feats themselves) you will find incredible stories of gallantry, coolness under pressure, and amazing leadership of their troops. General Swarzkpof’s citation is incredibly inspiring, leading his troops across a free fire zone, dragging his wounded soldiers to the helicopters under fire, among many other super human feats.

Ed Blalik called in an air strike on his own position in the Vietnam War. Rather than a rash act of desperation, it ended up killing the North Vietnamese troops and sparing his troops who were dug in. For such a show of leadership and courage, he won a Medal of Honor.

I remember my first squad leader going over the ranking of medals in the Army. When we got to the Purple Star he said: that’s a medal you don’t want to earn! In comparison with the extreme feats of leadership and courage under fire that the above acts represent, jumping on a hand grenade does not compare, in my estimation.

[sargunner]

Most outstanding job Staff Sergeant.

[usmcobra]

Nothing you can say from here on out is going to prove you’re right.

Why bother.

[freema]

girlene, here’s a Marine who got close.

Reading the nomination for Bellavia... well, I don’t even need to say what I think about Haditha, do I.

[jazusamo]

What, pray tell, is a “Purple Star.”

You’ld best quit now.

[RDTF]

you may want to ask the mods to remove that ridiculous post, or suffer the consequences here

[usmcobra]

On a Related note Hawaii it seems has it's own Medal of Honor, I am a bit perplexed over the name and methodology for those honored by it.

[freema]

: )

[DUMBGRUNT]

Heroic Royal marine throws himself on grenade - and survives - UK in Afghanistan

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993977/posts

[stylin19a]

yikes...again, you don’t “win” the MOH.
Sgt. John (Bud) Hawk tells people over and over, “It wasn’t a contest.”

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

I somewhat agree with his sentiment. Being awarded the MOH has almost become impossible unless you’re dead. There are plenty of guys in the military that have done things in Iraq or Afghanistan that would have gotten them a MOH if they were in WWII or Korea. It’s gotten to the point that the Army doesn’t even want to consider a MOH citation unless the person is dead. That’s not the intent of the medal. It’s for actions “above and beyond the call of duty.” It’s not supposed to be a “dead man’s medal.”

[fella]

Hollyweird will NOT make a movie about this incident unless they can use artistic license to make the insurgents into unarmed women and children.

[gunner03]

I totally agree. Read the citation of my friend SSGT P.S. Connor and how he got his CMH in Nam.