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This must be one of the most strangely reported news story I have ever read. First of all it was very clear, two off-duty US Marines get suspicious about a guy carrying a bag, they follow him when he goes to the toilet and listen as he chambers a round into his AK 47, they then beat the crap out of him, getting injured along the way. Fine, nice and clear. Now it seems the guy started shooting at the passengers without warning, three Americans, off-duty servicemen certainly but not Marines, then decide to go into action and bravely bring the assailant down. Great, still a fantastic story, but did the media just entirely make up the first story as the ideas entered their head and publish them on news agencies all around the world without anybody checking the facts? And now we learn that a middle-aged British IT guy also played a role, not as important admittedly but obviously enough to be awarded a medal. And then there is this weird medal bit? Seriously amid all the confusion, with blood still on their shirts and their comrade still in hospital and presumably detectives wanting to question them as vital witnesses, someone, we are not told who, whipped out some medals for them and sent them down to the local bistro to get photos taken. I really wonder what is going on in this story.

I know a little about medals and it takes a while for metals to be authorized. That does not happen in hours/days more like weeks or moths. Now I am talking about medal for bravery not service metals. Service metals are just part of the process, you qualify? You get the medal instantly.