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To: Fractal Trader
You are an even bigger idiot than I thought if you think that George Patton would agree with you.

You said the purpose of medals is to see them pinned on a live soldier's chest. I'll ask again: Were all the posthumous MOH's and other medals we've awarded in over a century were given by mistake? Frank Luke, Addison Baker, John Jerstad and Vince Capodano all got their MOHs by mistake? Aspberger (mentioned upthread) shouldn't have gotten his Navy Cross because he died in another battle before it was awarded? We shouldn't have ever awarded posthumous Purple Hearts? Colin Kelly's DSC should never have been awarded? The Brits shouldn't have given the Victoria Cross to Andrew Mynarski, who today still inspires young Canadians with his courage and selflessness 63 years after his death?

Why don't you show some courage and answer the bloody question?

125 posted on 03/31/2008 7:36:44 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (It's not conservative to accept an inept Commander-in-Chief in a time of war. Back Mac.)
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To: Mr. Silverback
You are an even bigger idiot than I thought if you think that George Patton would agree with you.

Tsk. Tsk. Instead of a cogent argument, you resort to personal slander.

The real issue with the MOH is that it has become more and more rare for the medal to reward actions that result in a substantial military gain, but where the protagonist has survived to tell the story. Instead, the award often has come to memorialize tragedies, such as the tragic loss of the two Delta force members in Somalia.

I served with hundred of officers with superlative records who had one of the highest rewards that the military can give, which is a tour of duty at the military academy. While I don't think that they would necessarily be as crude as I have been about the MOH controversy, I am quite certain that they would agree with the general assessment that the MOH has failed to recognize the valor of those who have lead and survived difficult military operations.

There were three different departments who pleaded for me to return. I certainly trust their judgment rather than to listen to your personal invectives.

127 posted on 04/01/2008 12:25:44 PM PDT by Fractal Trader
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