Criteria: a. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
b. Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed under circumstances described above, which are of lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star.
c. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The required achievement or service while of lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.
The Bronze Star ranks 15th in order of precedence on a list of 31 U.S. military decorations, according to the Army. Since World War II, 1,176,241 Bronze Star medals have been awarded. In Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, 1,224 Bronze Star medals were awarded. Updated totals for Operation Iraqi Freedom have not been calculated.*
Details of Report Point to Leadership Failures
Lt. Gen. James B. Peake, the U.S. Army surgeon general, presented the award and spoke briefly to Lynch's family and gathered military personnel.
Peake said the Purple Heart is awarded to a person who has given more to his or her country than just service.
``They have given of themselves by going into harm's way,'' he said. ``The Bronze Star is given for meritorious service in combat and the POW Medal is one that very few people receive.''
Other members of Lynch's unit who were injured and held captive also received medals during a July 4 ceremony at Fort Bliss, Texas.
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Fort Bliss awards medals to 13 'heroes' 507th, MPs honoredLaura Cruz
The Army post also honored 13 of its soldiers who distinguished themselves in action in Iraq. "For 228 years, American soldiers have answered the call to free the oppressed and light the path to freedom," said Gen. Larry R. Ellis, Forces Command's commanding general, before an audience of about 300 at Fort Bliss' annual Fourth of July celebration at Memorial Circle. "Every generation has its heroes, and this one is no different," Ellis said. "These men and women are soldiers who set aside their personal safety. They risked their lives and suffered much to save Iraqi citizens ... (and) their heroism demands our respect and reminds us of our soldiers who are still overseas." Under a blazing July sun, the 13 soldiers -- nine members of the 507th Maintenance Company and four members of the 76th Military Police Battalion -- stood at attention as, one by one, they received some of the nation's most prestigious awards for their actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers who fought to the last bullet and risked their lives to protect comrades were awarded Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts and Prisoner of War medals. Pfc. Patrick Miller, of the 507th, received the Silver Star Medal, the nation's fourth-highest award for bravery. According to the military, the Silver Star is awarded to a soldier who is "cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force." The maintenance company, which suffered some of the heaviest losses of any unit in Iraq, was traveling toward Baghdad in a convoy when the soldiers were ambushed March 23 near Nasiriyah. Nine soldiers were killed, six were taken prisoner and four were wounded. Fort Bliss officials said Miller was in the rear of the convoy and manually fed rounds into the chamber of his weapon to protect two fellow soldiers. When captured, Miller, who had radio frequencies written inside his helmet, told his Iraqi captors that the highly sensitive numbers were the prices for water pumps. Spc. Shoshana Johnson, who was shot in the ankle, was steadied by Ellis as he presented her awards -- the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal. Her father, Claude Johnson, said he was happy to see his daughter recognized. "I'm not just proud of Shona, I'm proud of everybody," he said. "These guys did tremendous things. Somehow, you feel that it is not fair that everybody's not getting the same thing. There're (soldiers still in Iraq) risking their lives as well." Spc. Edgar Hernandez, who received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal, proudly presented his awards to his new wife and his family, who arrived Tuesday afternoon from Alton, Texas, for the ceremony. "I think all of the soldiers deserved the recognition because they made such large sacrifices," said Hernandez's father, Jose, who celebrates his birthday July 4. "It's not only my day of birth but the birth of the United States," he said. "We thank God for that day because it is a great day for all of the nation."
Laura Cruz may be reached at lcruz@elpasotimes.com |
