Lynch Receives Bronze Star Before Homecoming (What for?!!)

KFOXTV.com ^ | 07/22/03 | KFOXTV.com

[Destro]

Lynch Receives Bronze Star Before Homecoming

Pfc. Jessica Lynch is returning home Tuesday, newly decorated for heroism in Iraq.

A member of Ft. Bliss' 507th Maintenance Company, Lynch was captured during the attack on a portion of the unit in Nasiriyah, Iraq on March 23rd. She was rescued from captivity on April 1st.

On Monday, Pfc. Lynch received the Bronze Star for heroism, Purple Heart for being wounded in combat, and P.O.W. Medal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she has been treated for more than three months. KFOX will have a full report on Private Lynch's homecoming Tuesday night on KFOX News at Nine.

[centurion316]

Forget it. Visit Destro's home page: serious personality disorder going on here.

[Kevin Curry]

Based on the evidence we have, a Bronze Star is a reasonable award. Now, had she been awarded a Silver Star based on the same evidence I would be scratching my head just as you are.

[O Neill]

Not long ago...in a Slick Willie culture now behind us (thank God!)...comes Medal of Honor WINNER...BOB Kerrey...ahhhh, FR...thanks for the memories...

"http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ae7d92d27be.htm"

JESSICA LYNCH: Thank you for your service to our Country (One Nation Under God), to our Constitution, and to the cause of freedom!

[ought-six]

"Nice Job! Thanks for your Service."

And thank you for yours.

[Ramius]

Wow. No kidding.

[RGSpincich]

Before we hear how the Bronze Star has been devalued by it's issuance to Lynch. Let's hear from a former General about the bravery required in Vietnam to receive the award.

"Almost anyone who was in the combat zone in Vietnam got a Bronze Star," said one Army general in Europe, "especially the officers."
"It kind of meant you were there ... a recognition of what you might call the fear factor," he added.

Pvt. Lynch was definitely "there" in Iraq and I'm sure the "fear factor" was in full effect. Many of her fellow soldiers in the 507th have already received their Bronze Stars, posthumously. According to Gen. Patton dying for one's country is not what wins wars so I'd say Lynch was equally entitled to the award.

Star & Stripes

Bronze Star Index

[southernnorthcarolina]

Before weighing in on this subject, let me recite my credentials.

My military experience consists of pacing around my frat house at Vanderbilt University while the draft lottery numbers by date of birth were being read over the radio. When 200 was reached without my birth date having been announced, I had myself a beer. Pretty much, that was it.

If I had drawn a low number, would I have gone to Nam without protest? Easy to say now, but yes, I would have. Was I committed enough to our cause to volunteer, at the risk of my life? No.

So I'm not about to question the valor of those who served. Nor will I question the judgment of those who decide what commendations should be awarded. Every man and woman who honorably served in combat is a hero as far as I'm concerned. To argue over whether this or that soldier is properly entitled to this or that ribbon or medal is, in my opinion, just plain sad.

[ArneFufkin]

OK...I just don't recall all of the pomp and circumstance for the other POW's.

Read here

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Pfc. Patrick Miller, 23, of Wichita, Kan., received the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal.

Interesting guy here. I think he's the one that sang Toby Keith's tune "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" (The Angry American)" to his Iraqi captors.

This guy has some guts. (And IIRC at some event, Toby Keith sang it with him, and gave him a guitar - afterwards, Keith split, 'cause he didn't want to take the limelight away from Miller, and met up with him for lunch later...how cool is that?)

[myrabach]

Sounds to me like they did just to tick you off.

[rabidralph]

but there has to be a bigger criteria than getting wounded to get a coveted award.

Coveted? Do you actually think military people look forward to getting wounded because of the neat awards they'll get?

[Prodigal Son]

I think Destro has left the building.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I think part of what is causing questioning and resentment is that the standard for awards has changed so radically over the years.

I just heard a woman call a talk radio show, and she was very upset; her husband had earned a Bronze Star in WWII, and she said he was upset about this as well.

I don't know if they were making the "V" for valor distinction back then - do you? Apparently most of this man's unit had been killed, and he went through hell to get his. My dad's stretcher partner in WWII was awarded one posthumously because he stayed on Iwo Jima when he had a chance to leave (got a ding in the arm) - was killed three hours later.

His is the only case I'm really close to, and I'm not sure if he got the "V" - or again, if there was a distinction at that time.

I also know the Army is far more liberal with Medals of Honor than any other branch of service; I don't know whether it follows that they are more liberal with awards in general, however.

[Notforprophet]

Good job all around, PS.

NFP

[Kevin Curry]

Every man and woman who honorably served in combat is a hero as far as I'm concerned. To argue over whether this or that soldier is properly entitled to this or that ribbon or medal is, in my opinion, just plain sad.

It might not be meaningful to you. You never served in the military. For those of us who did, it is meaningful and necessary to draw distinctions. Most of us can point to individual instances where a medal was given that seemed clearly not to be justified, and although we let it go we didn't completetly shrug it off. If everyone gets the same award for the different levels of hardship, bravery, and sacrifice, the award breeds resentment and is not good for morale.

But those of us who have "been there, done that" also realize that a Bronze Star is relatively easy to win in a passive sense. By that I mean, it is winnable if you merely perservere with honor (or at least avoiding dishonor) despite the hardships of combat and enemy action. You don't have to kill ten enemy berserkers with well-aimed spit and your bare hands. That's why the Bronze Star was originally created: to boost the morale of troops who had been slogging faithfully in the mud and blood of combat or the front lines.

PFC Lynch seems to have qualified, so I suspect few of us who have military experience will begrudge her the award.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

I believe it was reported recently that she broke her back in the crash that ended their escape from Saddam's troops. Not only her back in more than one place, but her legs and arm also. It is unlikely that she could have engaged in a fire fight in that condition. She may have gotten off a few shots prior to the crash.

She seems not to be able to remember anything from that time until the rescue. Not too surprising. Most people who are injured in accidents do not remember the incident. The evidence for rape or torture isn't strong and most likely the doctors at the hospital did what they could for her. She must have been in great pain, delirious and frightened half to death. When her rescuers identified themselves as American Soldiers she replied, "I'm an American Soldier, too".

She was not part of a combat unit and I don't suppose it occurred to her she could find herself in the combat situation in which she was injured. It is the media that has elevated her story to the breathy heights of celebrity in their ever frenzied attempts to do whatever the immediate situation calls for politically, always denegrating the right and lauding the left. She's just been whisked along for the ride, like it or not. You just know they had in mind the whole women in combat thing, but she can't remember, sort of puts a sock in it.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Kevin, do you know if the "V" distinction was always in place, or if it was added at some point?

[optimistically_conservative]

Which commander said this? CPT King, LTC Fischetti, higher?

Did he submit Walters for the Bronze Star? Why not a higher award? Why not a review and appeal for higher award if deserving?

[centurion316]

Yes, they were awarding the "V" device in World War II. As I said on an earlier post, the award of the Bronze Star in WWI varied widely according to the unit and theater. Some received theirs for extrodinary acts, others for just being there. Vagaries of chance.

The Air Force is the most liberal in the awarding of combat and other decorations. The Army is next. The Marine Corps and Navy are the most strict. EXCEPT for the Medal of Honor. Here, a close examination will reveal that the Navy has awarded the Medal of Honor for acts or bravery that would not qualify in other services. The Marine Corps is more liberal in its award of the Medal of Honor than is the Army, probably because its recommendations must be approved by the Department of the Navy. That said, anyone wearing a Medal of Honor has earned it.

[Satadru]

That is not what I mean. Tons of soldiers get wounded in wars. Not everyone cannot be eligible for an award. An act of bravery should be a minimum requirement for getting an award.