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>I never met anyone who wanted a medal for their action. Medals are a politically advantageous device to instill moral and prestige not only in the individual but the asshole responsible for “handing it out” and all associated with it.
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>My medals are in a box where they belong. Now for $2.00 and all my Air Force medals I can buy a $2.00 cup of Starbucks coffee. I had better hurry because the price might just go up and I will be shi* out of luck. :)
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Hi Tom,

To each his own, I guess. In Viet Nam I saw lots of medals handed out that I thought were not deserved. It was an obvious attempt to boost morale, but in the long run, if medals were easy to get, what value do they have?

I was awarded medals in Viet Nam, sufficient to allow me to select a burial spot in Arlington. I earned every bit of them and am proud of them. I would not have accepted them otherwise.

I'm sure you know that Purple Hearts are awarded for being wounded in action. Not commonly known is the definition of being 'wounded' Any injury sustained in a combat action makes you eligible. I was in an action that involved destroying enemy bunkers once we had cleaned the enemy out. To do so meant blowing them up. In the ensuing explosion, I was struck and injured by debris from the bunker. I refused the Purple Heart in deference to those who were truly wounded or killed.

I still receive letters from folks who were in a sister unit that was pinned down. I was able to rescue them at (looking back on it) considerable risk to myself. I was awarded a medal for my action and I am proud of it but I am more proud that my fellow combatants are still around today.

I don't usually talk about this stuff but I couldn't let pass, and therefore condone, the lumping of all medals and all officers into your description.

Thanks,

Ken