[twowilliam]

This almost makes me want to return my Bronze Star Medal
earned during WW11. The certificate with it reads "for meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy". Then you had to do something...now, it appears
that you just have to be there. Oh well, that's life.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

My dad was a medic in WWII.

Dad's stretcher partner on Iwo Jima was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously; he had been dinged in the arm and was given the opportunity to leave (he was, in fact, encouraged to leave), but he chose to stay on the island ("hell on earth", to be sure). Three hours later he was dead.

I am sure you earned Bronze Star. Please keep it.

I have heard more than one post-WWII vet suggest that they hand medals out rather liberally these days, and that they don't mean much to them. That, to me, is sad. I wish the military had maintained the same standards.

It was definitely different in WWII.