Lawmakers introduce bill to demote Pentagon's new medal

Stars and Stripes ^ | February 27, 2013 | Joyce Tsai

[Ron H.]

This is a really tough issue.....

No it is NOT. You and others seem to forget just what these medals represent or entail - personal RISK of life and SACRIFICE in the face of real live combat. Now please tell me just what risk and sacrifice what an armchair drone operator might face?! Getting a hangnail maybe?!

These people want a medal then give them a rifle, a helmet and put them out in the field and do something that is actually deserving of any medal for valor. This issue leaves me livid, too many of my friends came back home in body bags or minus some limbs or minus their minds and here we have a bunch of armchair weenies wanting to lay claim to something they don't earn nor deserve. Give them a plaque they can hang on their wall but no medals.

As a recipient of the Purple Heart this makes me mad but also saddens me at the same time that we have someone wanting to cheapen the merits of the medal I received in combat for my wounds received (I was actually eligible for 2 more additional PH's but I refused them for personal reasons each time). This proposed medal is crazy.

[GopherIt]

Ron,
It saddens me - that anyone deserving decoration for valor, risk, and sacrifice should find it necessary to disparage their fellow servicemembers or gainsay the value of their contributions. Not everyone in the RE is an MF. For instance, I know of one airman drone operator who spotted very obscure IED placements, not once but twice, through diligence and skill that borders on heroic. Lives were saved. Such servicemembers are deserving of decoration. This one was (AFAAM). I agree completely with all of you who feel such decorations should order below the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

[Ron H.]

I'm sorry you feel the way you do but I must take exception to you or anyone else trying to make ludicrous comparisons between truly valiant service members who are or were wounded and even deceased and armchair drone operators hundreds or thousands of miles far away from any danger. Like the other person I responded to you don't seem to understand much the purpose of medals awarded for valor while serving in harms way for their country.

You want to recognize these people then give them a plaque or certificate of achievement as been already suggested or something similar. By giving them medals that are on par for those that are reserved for actual fighting service members the risk is run that at some point these armchair service members will one day demand overburdened and already very thinly stretched VA medical medical care and or compensation set aside specifically for combat related injuries and/or causalities.

As a veteran with a 100%+ service connected disability rating (actually rated at 150% and with a need to file for even a further rating increase soon) and confined to a wheelchair most of my waking days and in need of the medical facilities and care resulting from my time spent in actual combat in the jungles of Viet Nam I don't want to be denied even more care should these armchair drone vets start demanding coverage for a claim for carpal tunnel or calluses on their butts from sitting for too long or for some other related armchair claims.

NO! I for one have joined my VFW, MOPH and DAV service organizations in opposing this move by the Pentagon as unnecessary and unworthy. I am honored they are serving their country in this manner but I do resent them being awarded medals for what they are doing. Achievement awards are fine but not medals.