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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.