The Medals Don't Matter

NYT ^ | 2-16-04 | JAKE TAPPER

[Buffettbassman]

And this is a trick considering snakes lack lacrimal ducts or glands.

Cool!

[Lion in Winter]

I Would not mention names but I know somebody who serverd in the Korean War and got a Purple Heart for losing most of a limb due to severe frostbite. It after being in a battle and not receiving what you would call the "traditional" wounds one expects from combat.

[NYCVirago]

I caught Carville on Crossfire today belittling President Bush's Yale days as a cheerleader. He tried to compare those days with Kerry's 4 months in country.

That's pretty rich, coming from a guy who not only didn't go to Vietnam, but how bragged in his book about failing so many college classes, and taking something like seven years to graduate LSU!

[hunter112]

...got a Purple Heart for losing most of a limb due to severe frostbite.

Clearly, the person you're talking about deserves a medal, and the honor and respect of all Americans. As I said above, my ignorance about military awards is what I seek to remedy here, and after the remarks from Buffettbassman, I stand corrected, and better educated. That's one of the highest functions of FR! We have so many here, who have such rich and powerful experiences, who are great at teaching and explaining.

[redhawk34]

Actually, the Purple Heart was instituted by Washington as a general award for meritorious/valorous service. The reverse of the medal still reads"For Military Merit". It did not have its present significance until WWII. The requirements for its award has always varied, as is the case with all medals, by unit.
It's difficult to compare WWII with Vietnam. The WWII soldier had to deal with enemy naval and air attacks, and with massed artillery, which we did not.
OTOH, It's rare to find a WWII vet with much over 150 combat days. If one landed at Normandy and fought to the end, that was less than a year, and much of that was spent in marching or moving by truck across Europe. Also, one third of the troop strength was typically held in reserve; two Battalions up, one back. The Marines would take an island, then train for weeks or months before the next assault. The level of combat in WWII could be extremely intense.
Vietnam was different; no front, a frequently unidentifiable enemy, and no real "rear area." The Vietnam Grunt got one week R&R, and days-off were few. Many have 250 combat days or more. He spent a high percentage of that time patrolling, which was an everyday mission, and patrolling is one of the most intense of military activities, and one of the most wearing, physically and psychologically.
I'm figuring a combat day as one where one is shot at, or has the imminent possibility. A patrol which does not make contact is a combat day, as is an "uneventful" day in a WWII front line position.
Redhawk34
Dave Murray

[MonroeDNA]

Whatever you do, don't look for the guy behind the curtain.

Nothing to see here; move along now.