>>Retracted.
>
>Too slow .... I read your reply.
>
>Tracy, I was not insulting the soldier who is receiving the Medal of Honor in any way. It may have been expressed poorly enough to give that impression. My post was not about him but about the military PR machine. Yes, he was a hero. Was he more of a hero than others, though? Why him, why now? Announcing it just before 9/11 seems awfully convenient, doesn't it? You don't have to answer these questions, just ponder them.

For someone who supposedly spent energy and time in pursuing a career in journalism, you don't spend too much time or energy doing research. It takes months and often years for the process to go through. His actions were in 2007 and were covered in a book as well (which you know if you read my post I retracted).

Military PR machine? Who chose now to announce the award? Not the military. The White House. Who leads the White House? Spell it out. If you feel it is PR only then put the blame on your beloved leader and not the military. The military recommends awards, they do not award them. Who awards them? The President. Sgt. Robert J. Miller was announced the day before. Did you miss that?

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=60775

The process:
http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/crandall/medal/other.html

The following organizations and individuals play key roles in the Army Medal of Honor recommendation process:

CHAIN OF COMMAND
Submits award reccomendation that meets the two year submission time limit to Department of the Army Personnel Command
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Submits award recommendation that is outside the two year limit for submission to Department of the Army Personnel Command or the Secretary of the Army who forwards request to Personnel Command.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY PERSONNEL COMMAND
Army Decoration Board - Merit Review, can disprove based on criteria (Cdr, HRC can overrule)
Senior Army Decorations Board - Recommends approval, disapproval, or downgrade.
MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS
Concurs or nonconcurs with Board recommendation
CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMY
Concurs or nonconcurs with Board recommendation
SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
Recommends approval or can disapprove. Also forwards packet to Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for comment.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Recommends approval or can disapprove.
PRESIDENT
Approves or disapproves.