President Obama to Award Medal of Honor

On October 6, President Barack Obama will award Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Staff Sergeant Miller will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in Afghanistan on January 25, 2008. He displayed immeasurable courage and uncommon valor - eventually sacrificing his own life to save the lives of his teammates and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers. Staff Sergeant Miller’s parents, Phil and Maureen Miller will join the President at the White House to commemorate their son’s selfless service and sacrifice.

Robert Miller was born on October 14, 1983, in Harrisburg, Pa. He graduated from Wheaton North High School, Wheaton IL. Shortly after his family moved to Oviedo, Florida, he enlisted in the United States Army as a Special Forces candidate in August 2003. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and later became a Green Beret in 2005. Staff Sergeant Miller served as a weapons sergeant in Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), which is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

His military decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device, Army Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab and Parachute Badge.

He is survived by his parents, Phil and Maureen Miller; brothers Thomas, Martin and Edward; and sisters Joanna, Mary, Therese and Patricia.

We should and will honor them all.

But, for those who have not been following this issue, most historians and military experts find it very curious that in the years since the end of the Vietnam War, not a single act of valor has been deemed to warrant award of the Medal of Honor excepting posthumous awards. The War in Iraq and Afghanistan has been ongoing since 2001 with several hundreds of thousands of military members engaged in combat, much of it very extensive combat.

The frequency of awards of the highest decorations (Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross) has been very low when compared with other conflicts and, in the case of the Medal of Honor, no awards have been made to someone still living. This has caused considerable discussion about why this might be and what procedures may have changed within the Defense Department. The standards certainly seem to be different. The speculation is that there have been many acts of valor that have merited the Medal of Honor, but reluctance for political reasons has meant that a lower honor was approved.

Staff Sergeant Miller is a true American hero and we all salute him and remember him. Some day, some soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine will stand at attention to receive his medal rather than just having it engraved on his tombstone. And, one hopes that decisions on who might be deserving are not colored by politics, bureaucracy, or anything else.

Understood. I wasn’t blaming Obama for that directly. I’m more incensed that the Kenyan Usurper is handing out medals to men whose jock he couldn’t hold.

I’m completely fatigued by this asshat, and I’ve gotta deal with him for another 2 years. Make it stop!

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