Quote:
Originally Posted by Seahawk
I have one, which I never wore, for hauling trash during the first dust up in 1990. The rules for getting one were stupid.
.
|
Good friend of mine got to Iraq in 2003/4 from officer basic course. Had been in country about a month when he was told he was getting a Bronze Star just like everyone else.
Then when we both went back in 2005 the rules got tightened up; some smart person realized they shouldn't just give those out like candy. Problem was that horse was already out of the barn and it would create disparity when people got looked at for promotion.
So for our tour we both got Army Commendation Medals. And when we both left Fort Campbell a few weeks after returning from Iraq we both got Army Commendation Medals for the time at Campbell. Totally non-sensical.
Putting that aside... I had numerous Soldier clients/defendants at Fort Campbell that had been in no joke combat in A'Stan. Dudes came back to Campbell and did drugs to kill the pain or get in some other trouble. They would tell me about the firefights they were in and their buddies getting killed. I'd ask them if they had any awards/decorations that we could present in court to show their commitment to duty. Not a one of them had a award or decoration but they all said and knew that their commanders and other senior leaders got Bronze Stars and the like working in the Tactical Operations Centers while these kids were out in the $hite.
Edit: sorry for the rant but this really touches a nerve with me. No blame to anyone here just stupid Army stuff.