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" FOX News just reported this as the Air force cross the third since Vietnam for Airmen........Serious possible error here Dwar ..... "

Look...If you want to flame the messenger, that's your perogative. If you had read my earlier replies you would know I reported what Fox News said at the live ceremony honoring TSgt Chapman that I saw at about 7:50 PST. They even had it posted in the scrawl at the bottom of the screen as the Air Force Medal of Honor. They must have discovered their error and corrected their mistake. If I posted inaccurate information it was because the original report was inaccurate. After 12 years of post secondary education I am able to know the difference between the written words 'medal of honor' and 'cross'. If there is a serious possible error here it is Fox News' error. In addition I find it quite interesting that many on this thread choose to focus on the award and possible/probable error when my intention was to honor the hero. Sad.

The error was clearly Fox News and they deserve to be dinged for this. Too much sloppy reporting on military matters - they have a staff that is just grossly ignorant about such things, and doesn't seem to be making any effort to get educated. Unfortunately, the Services and DoD Public Affairs types aren't much better. They get things wrong also, and they often neglect occasions such as this.

The reason that this is important is that valor awards at this level are extremely rare. The United States has awarded just two Medals of Honor since Vietnam, both postumously to two Army Special Forces sergeants killed in action during the Modgadishu fight (Blackhawk Down). The Air Force has awarded four or five Air Force Crosses: one or two during the Gulf War (to Officers), one to an AF enlisted man for the Mogadishu fight, and two in Afghanistan. Senior Airman Jason Cunningham recently received the award postumously for the same fight for which Chapman was cited. The Navy have awarded two Navy Crosses, both to Marines during the Gulf War. The Army has only awarded one Distinguished Service Cross. It was awarded for actions in Afghanistan, but has not been publicized, perhaps because the recepient is an "operator", i.e. in a classified job in Special Operations. There may be one or two others, but since the Defense Department does such a poor job recognizing these men, I'm not sure.

Bottom line is that all of these men deserve our respect, and the press should do a better job of letting the American public know about it. Thanks for your post.

In addition I find it quite interesting that many on this thread choose to focus on the award and possible/probable error when my intention was to honor the hero. Sad.

Agreed. Bickering over the details only obscures what matters here: that a great American, who gave his life to save his brothers in arms, was honored today.

Personally, I think his actions were worthy of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Most CMOH recipients earned them doing exactly what TSgt. Chapman did: charging enemy positions and drawing fire away from his comrades.

Jesus said: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

The most sincere praise I can give this great American who we have lost is this: I would want him by my side in battle.

Awwww lighten up Dwar ....after 26 years active duty I understand what you were trying to do .... Posting a thread so we all can show the due respect for the Airman.

Don't read into what I did to correct the error on "FNC's" part......not yours. Don't get yer panties in a bunch. I addressed it to you and AM so you'd know what I found on the matter.....

If I post something wrong I expect and would like to be corrected .........

In addition I find it quite interesting that many on this thread choose to focus on the award and possible/probable error when my intention was to honor the hero.

That's because many of us are former career military people ourselves,and realize what a heavy-duty "hero badge" the MOH truly is. We don't like to see the term "MOH" thrown around loosely.

Having said that,I personally hold all winners of the various service crosses to the same respect I show actual MOH winners. I know that the usual route to getting one of these awards is to have your MOH award denied. It's a rare thing to see somebody wearing one of these,and it takes a rare amount of courage and determination to earn one.