Living Soldier receives his Medal Of Honor today

[Cryptic]

:usa http://mustangworld.com/forums/images/smilies/usa.gif

First time in 40 years (Vietnam War) the Medal of Honor was awarded to someone still alive. Great story.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4421375/afghan-war-heros-uncommon-valor

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/11/17/alg_medal_of_honor.jpg

[lordairgtar]

Xlnt

[TheRX7Project]

I heard the story of what he did too...

The rundown is that there was a fierce firefight going on, he pulled two wounded soldiers to safety, then his sergeant was being captured by some Taliban so he ran out of cover, shot the two fuckers that were carrying his sergeant off and pulled him back too, and then attempted to stop him from bleeding out before they could be evacuated. He was shot twice. His sergeant and one of the other men died despite his efforts.

That is some true courage, strength and honor.

[SSLEVO]

Very crazy story, i can't even imagine being in that situation. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve the medal but it seems like things like this have had to happen many times since vietnam. How do they decide to award the medal of honor?

[Irish]

Why is Obama frowning?

[xxsn0blindxx]

Anybody see his interview on 60 minutes? He considers himself an un-outstanding soldier and doesn't feel like he deserves the medal more than any other soldier. I suppose that's what you should expect from a medal of honor winner and not a gloating attitude, but still it's interesting how he almost seems angry to have been chosen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoEZKyIAPIQ

[SSLEVO]

He did loose 2 friends, maybe he thinks he should have been able to save them? He said he would trade the medal in a heartbeat to get his friends back.

[Holeshot]

I salute him as my U.S. Army Brother. What an Honor.

[MoCkiN U]

his last sentence could not have been chosen any better. Good job soldier

[lordairgtar]

Why is Obama frowning?
It's a solemn event and he's probably just concentrating on the placement of the medal. Let's not read into these things more than there is.

[srt4eh]

Now that is a true American Hero. I would be honored to salute him if I ever meet him.

[MoCkiN U]

I am curious now......

at what times is he required to wear the medal? I know there is a ribbon and such but wonder what the etiquette of wearing the medal or meeting a recipient are?

gonna search it up I guess

[srt4eh]

Medal of Honor recipients are to be saluted. I don't believe that they are required to wear the medal.

[Cryptic]

Medal of Honor recipients are to be saluted. I don't believe that they are required to wear the medal.

There is still a ribbon, which would be on top of course. If you see it, you salute it.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:O3tzAVbVo_28UM:http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/978/douglasmacarthurribbons9mi.gif&t=1

[srt4eh]

There is still a ribbon, which would be on top of course. If you see it, you salute it.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:O3tzAVbVo_28UM:http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/978/douglasmacarthurribbons9mi.gif&t=1

of course there is a ribbon :) He asked when they had to wear the medal....which technically they don't :headbang

[MoCkiN U]

I found many things I didnt know. I highlighted the ones that caught my attention right away

- Although not required by law or military regulation, members of the uniformed services are encouraged to render salutes to recipients of the Medal of Honor as a matter of respect and courtesy regardless of rank or status
- Each Medal of Honor recipient may have his or her name entered on the Medal of Honor Roll
- Enlisted recipients of the Medal of Honor are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance.
- Recipients receive special entitlements to air transportation under the provisions of DOD Regulation.
- Special identification cards and commissary and exchange privileges are provided for Medal of Honor recipients and their eligible dependents.
- Eligibility for interment at Arlington National Cemetery if not otherwise eligible.
- Fully qualified children of recipients are eligible for admission to the United States military academies without regard to the nomination and quota requirements.
- Recipients receive a 10 percent increase in retired pay
- Recipients receive an invitation to all future presidential inaugurations.



As with all medals, retired personnel may wear the Medal of Honor on "appropriate" civilian clothing. Regulations also specify that recipients of the Medal of Honor are allowed to wear the uniform "at their pleasure" with standard restrictions on political, commercial, or extremist purposes; other former members of the armed forces may do so only at certain ceremonial occasions




I have watched his interview over a few times and it strikes me when he talks about the weight on his shoulders of having the attention the award brings. His duty was honorable but he speaks in the segment " it hurts me because its not what I want. to be with so many who did something and to be singled out and brought forward. Everyone did something, Some wrote this about this and someone approved it and this story was told and hand shaks were made and sooner or later I'm talking to the president of the United States. I dont see how that happened"

I guess when you see the portion of awardees having invitations to the inaguration it shows how political this award is and even though he doesnt say it I have to look into this and his face and see the worry I cant help but think so many of these stories happen every single week and for them there isnt the sgt major, lieutenant, captain, general and so on to take this story on for those soldiers and their stories to push hard enough to get a congressman's attention to make a name for himself in the path of pushing a soldier forward.

I can see where knowing that or thinking that way would put a ton of weight on his shoulders in the form of guilt possibly. Has to be hard to deal with for sure.

[MurphysLaw88GT]

Great to see that he was able to survive the ordeal to be awarded during his lifetime. Can't give these guys enough respect. But, there are many that do amazing things and their story never gets told.

As a sidenote;

A great great great grandfather Dennis J.F.Murphy was awarded the MOH in 1892 for what he did in 1862 while in the in the 14th Wisconsin Regiment. He was still alive at the time. The flag he carried is still in the Veterans Museum in Madison today.

http://www.wisconsinbattleflags.com/units-flags/14th-wisconsin.php

[Irish]

It's a solemn event and he's probably just concentrating on the placement of the medal. Let's not read into these things more than there is.

I was curious. Is curiosity not allowed here? I see my reply to plum stupid was deleted.