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To further clarify the compare and contrast the Army MOH situation, Vela and Luttrell:President Bush pinned a Navy Cross on Luttrell in July 2006. Vela was court-martialed. Last month, a military panel found him guilty of murder without premeditation; he has begun serving a 10-year prison sentence.
Americans should be deeply disturbed by the contrast. If Luttrell and his fellow SEALs had done what Vela did, they all probably would be alive today. The media and our military, with the latter quick to charge murder, are impeding the judgment, mission and survival of our fighters.
One of Vela's court-martial prosecutors, Maj. Charles Khufahl, argued, "It was murder, plain and simple. United States soldiers do not kill unarmed, detained individuals." But is it so simple?
The Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibits killing an unarmed civilian detainee - unless he represents an imminent threat. But how can we expect a soldier to determine, in a split second, what represents such a threat? Does a civilian who, if released, might bring back armed fighters qualify?

There are three MOH recipients and two MOH nominees. Only one is alive. The one above who used a Gerber knife to silence his captive.

Evan Vela is alive. The Haditha Marines are alive. The Pendleton 8 are alive. Nazario is alive. Had these men operated as their persecutors demand they should, the odds they would be alive are slim to none.