First Medal of Honor for a Living Afghan War Vet

[opp550]

Not to take away from the award and the act itself, but in a way I feel bad for the guy. Looking at examples of past VC/MoH winners, fame isn't an easy thing to live with, especially when it's based on what was likely the worst day of your life. 

Given the US media's tendency to build folks up in the press only to tear them down later, I hope he gets the support he'll need from his chain of command.

It would be worse considering that most previous medals of honor were awarded while others were being awarded prehumously at the same times, while Staff Sergeant Giunta would be the only alive MoH in the Iraq-Afghanistan campaign, and one of the only, if not the only MoH currently serving in the US military. Either way, let's hope that he is not the focus of any anti-war protest groups or media outlets. It goes without saying, but congratulations to him as well.

Just my  :2c:

 

[57Chevy]

Fewer Americans get the Medal of Honor

DURHAM, N.C. — Even after President Barack Obama approved Medal of Honor awards last month for two soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, the number of such honorees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is far lower than for previous conflicts.

Military veterans and at least one member of Congress have challenged the Pentagon to explain the discrepancy, and some critics have accused the military of politicizing the awards process.

A study last year by the Army Times newspaper found that from World War I through World War II, Korea and Vietnam, the number of Medal of Honor recipients ranged from 23 to 29 per million troops. But in Iraq and Afghanistan, there has been barely one award per 1 million troops.

Only eight Medal of Honor awards have been approved for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan, compared with 464 during World War II. Just one of the medals for bravery in Afghanistan or Iraq was to a living recipient, Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore A. Giunta, whose award was announced by the White House on Sept. 10. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller, 24, a weapons specialist, received the award posthumously on Wednesday.

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[ModlrMike]

It seems they're having the same discussions on the topic that we're having WRT our honours rates.

 

[mariomike]

Topic: "The Newsroom: First Medal of Honor for a Living Afghan War Vet":
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/96470.0.html

"Only eight Medal of Honor awards have been approved for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan, compared with 464 during World War II."

If they insist on comparing statistics:
"Total U. S. military deaths in battle and from other causes were 416,837":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties#endnote_US
( Sources listed on Footnote #56 )

"A study last year by the Army Times newspaper found that from World War I through World War II, Korea and Vietnam, the number of Medal of Honor recipients ranged from 23 to 29 per million troops."

The study should take into consideration that in 1918 and 1945 America demobilized a lot of unused manpower. Their "Big Push" to Berlin in WW1 did not happen, because of the Armistice. Also, the invasion of Japan was cancelled because of the A-bombs.
I think they could be removed from the equation, because both World Wars ended before those men could be deployed on operations.
However, for Americans who fought in World War Two, the battles in Europe and the Pacific were very intense. More than 990 U.S. Marines and 680 sailors died in the three-day battle at Tarawa. Early American daylight bombing missions into Germany sustained appalling losses.
Audie Murphy spent three years in combat. By the end of WW2, only he and a supply sergeant were left in his original company.

 

[desert_rat]

posted in the "Restrepo" thread, but it bears repeating!

Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta is the first living recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor...he earned it in the Korengal Valley...

here's the 60 Minutes segment:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/60_minutes/video/?pid=qIQK376g1IvOY6NmV94JKEYyS20hn27B&vs=homepage&play=true

 

[CombatDoc]

Here's the segment showing President Obama awarding SSG Giunta the MOH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2RWscJM97U&feature=related

Reviewing the various interviews that have been held with SSG Giunta (e.g. the 60 Minutes interview) regarding the MOH award, I am struck by 2 things, his humility and his sadness.  He takes great effort to not portray himself as a hero, describing himself as a "mediocre" soldier and trying to credit the rest of his team.  Secondly, it is clear that he has been personally deeply affected by his combat experiences, and sees his comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice as the true heroes.  Well done to him, I hope that his future unfolds in a fitting manner for him and his family.

 

[Pusser]

I saw SSgt Giunta on the Colbert Report.  I think he's handling himself quite well.  He seems to be quite humbled by the whole experience, yet has the wherewithall to understand its importance.

On the subject of the verb "to win," it is quite correct to use this word when referring to decorations.  As do many ancient English words, "win" has several different meanings and a number of the standard definitions fit the concept of winning a decoration.  Check the dictionary.  It's quite clear that "winning" is an achievement and I don't thing anyone would argue that "winning" the MoH or VC is not an achievement.  Consider also that the insignia of a decoration can be seen as a trophy that marks an event.  Nobody bats an eye when somebody "wins" a trophy.

On a final note, I think that are two reasons we don't see as many VCs or MoHs awarded as there used to be:

1)  the bar has indeed been raised.  When the VC was established, it was the only award for valour.  Over time it was decided that valour should be broken divided into categories.  Thus, although the total number of valour awards might remain stable, the number of VCs would decrease as lesser acts of valour would be recognized with other decorations.

2)  warfare has gotten relatively safer.  Modern tactics and weaponry have reduced the need and/or the opportunity for individuals to have to put themselves into harm's way.  No longer does one have to draw one's sword, mount a horse and charge the guns in order to "win" victory.

 

[George Wallace]

2)  warfare has gotten relatively safer.  Modern tactics and weaponry have reduced the need and/or the opportunity for individuals to have to put themselves into harm's way.  No longer does one have to draw one's sword, mount a horse and charge the guns in order to "win" victory.

I beg to differ.  We may not be drawing swords, but we still have to mount vehicles, and in a Combat Arms Quick Attack, both Infantry and Armour along with Engineers are "charging" a foe.

 

[Pusser]

I beg to differ.  We may not be drawing swords, but we still have to mount vehicles, and in a Combat Arms Quick Attack, both Infantry and Armour along with Engineers are "charging" a foe.

I think you misunderstand my point.  We no longer send 100,000 men "over the top" into a hail of machine gun fire and expect to lose 40,000 in an afternoon in order to gain 50 yards.  Because of advances in strategy, tactics and weapons, we now use fewer people to do it better with fewer casualties.  Warfare is still bloody dangerous, but because we're now better at it, the opportunities where extreme valour  is necessary have been reduced, hence fewer awards.

 

[mariomike]

Warfare is still bloody dangerous, but because we're now better at it, the opportunities where extreme valour  is necessary have been reduced, hence fewer awards.

"Bomber" Harris felt that attacks so dangerous that a V.C. was likely to be awarded were not worth the losses ( eg: 55 out of 133 Dambusters KIA in a single night )
33 Dambusters were decorated at Buckingham Palace, with Guy Gibson, the CO of 617 Squadron, awarded the Victoria Cross.
Harris felt, "It achieved nothing compared with the effort and the loss."
He preferred to use his force on more prosaic operations. Losses were steady, but seldom, if ever, as high a ratio as that.

Also, from what I understand about Audie Murphy and all his medals, is that since the war, the US Army decided not to leave soldiers in combat for as long as he was. He was virtually the last survivor of his original comany. From what I understand, he actually gave at least some of his medals to the children of comrades who did not make it back.

 

[desert_rat]

SSgt Giunta ringing opening bell @ NYSE...

http://mojo.ly/hPaR10

 

[desert_rat]

...came across another good article:


http://usoonpatrol.org/archives/2010/12/17/we-are-soldiers?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Rifleman62]

http://restrepothemovie.com/

Outpost Films presents "The Sal Giunta Story". This 14 minute video tells his story.

 

[57Chevy]

Restrepo

Thats a Go