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Home Front: Culture Wars

24 Medals of Honor to be Awarded

2014-02-22

President Obama will correct a historical act of discrimination next month when he awards the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest commendation for combat valor, to a group of Hispanic, Jewish and African-American veterans who were passed over because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds.
The WaPo headline "Obama to award Medal of Honor to two dozen veterans, including 19 discrimination victims" had me prepared to be mad, but on reading the piece it became clear the awards are not for being discrimination victims, but an honest attempt to correct for past discrimination. (And Obama gets the credit but the effort was started in 2002.)
Now if they really want to clean up the historical political 'errors' in MoH awards they'll rescind the 18 given for the 'Battle' of Wounded Knee.

Posted by:Glenmore

#17 Yes. Welcome to Amerika.

Posted by: Omavising Ebbemp9815 2014-02-22 23:45

#16 BTW that pic is Russian, Red Army vets based on the caps badges and the T34 in the background from what my bad eyes can see without my glasses.

Posted by: OldSpook 2014-02-22 19:52

#15 These men are long overdue their honors from a grateful nation.

Remember though, all MOH awardees are politically dangerous, especially if they are part of the President's opposition. Here the President has found a way to both recognize these men and insulate himself from the criticism of more recent MOH awardees by creating a large group of awardees, who would not be so recognized except for the President's action.

A rare win-win for the administration.

Posted by: rammer 2014-02-22 16:58

#14 Since the brave warriors have waited this long, what would be wrong with making the awards AFTER the upcoming election? This would avoid the 'perception' of political pandering.

BLUF: They don't give a flying fok about negative perception or what people may think !

Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-22 15:36

#13 Hear, Hear, a narcistic president indeed.
It's all about HIM, and no other, HE stands up on the podium and HE awards the medals, (And ther Have to be others to receive them, but that's immaterial HE gets the glory.)

Posted by: Redneck Jim 2014-02-22 15:28

#12 People who normally end up getting the MOH did not join and fight to get the MOH. This is not the Olympics. Many recipients felt they did not deserve it but accepted on "behalf of their fellow soldiers" that they fought for.

This is not for the glorification of the general enlistment soldier. This is for the self glorification of a narcistic president.

Posted by: Omavising Ebbemp9815 2014-02-22 15:18

#11 I respectfully disagree. It's not 'cynical' it's political reality, and election PC theater. Everything these bastids do is political. Using living and dead servicemen, despicable.

If you doubt me, please examine the steps the administration is taking TODAY to... "help" our servicemen and women. Continued voting harassment, cuts in benefits and pay, PX/BX commissary closures, insurance, personnel cuts, high level purges.

Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-22 14:10

#10 I'm happy not to be cynical. This is long overdue.

These men were indeed heroes. It was part of the times that "colored", Hispanic and Jewish soldiers/sailors/marines who were extraordinarily brave received the DCS, Navy Cross or Silver Star instead of the MoH that a white soldier/sailor/marine might have received. It happened time after time in WWII starting at Pearl Harbor. Clearly happened in Vietnam.

Frankly I'm pleased for the recognition of these brave men. Bravo.

Posted by: Steve White 2014-02-22 13:59

#9 Good material for an... alternate history. :-)

Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-22 13:58

#8 Then there were old issues of CMOH awards delayed for decades combined with the previous policy of only awarding them to living veterans, which dates back to the Civil War. Many who deserved awards for given incidents did not live long enough to receive them, while those who somehow happened to survive long enough did receive them. I know of one incident like this, in the Battle of the Crater July 1864. From a history of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters on that day:Some of the Sharpshooters, among them Pvts. Sidney Haight, Antoine Scott, and Charles Thatcher, covered the retreat as best they could before they pulled out. Scott (Co. K) was one of the last to leave the fort.Thatcher, Haight, Scott and [Charles H.] DePuy all were cited for the Medal of Honor for their exploits that day. Thatcher, Haight and DePuy, all white, received their medals in 1896. Scott, the Pentwater Chippewa, died in 1878probably never knowing that his exceptional bravery had been recognized."

Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-02-22 13:54

#7 ..it is all but impossible for me to not be cynical..unfortunately, this cheapens the honors due..

Posted by: Uncle Phester 2014-02-22 10:23

#6 Extraordinarily high number. With intent to paint the military as extremely racist. Demonize. Divide and conquer.

Posted by: Omavising Ebbemp9815 2014-02-22 10:00

#5 Regime posturing to a patriotic, heavy voter audience. Who knew.

Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-22 08:50

#4 Officials from each service branch focused on service members who had been awarded the second-highest medal for gallantry: the Distinguished Service Cross for the Army, the Air Force Cross for that branch, and the Navy Cross for the Navy and Marine Corps.

That's the qualifier. Still its bread and games while Rome burns. Got to get those polls numbers up. Parade the heroes of the old republic out for show.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-02-22 08:35

#3 Yes Glen, and probably a couple of stars on the Klingon main entrance 'Hall of Heroes' as well. No names in the UNCLAS visitor registry of course.

Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-22 08:30

#2 Besoeker, I wonder Stevens does have an award, but one that can only be known to those with certain security clearance.

Posted by: Glenmore 2014-02-22 08:25

#1 No word yet on any honorarium or formal recognition for Ambassador Chris Stevens, information officer Sean Smith, and former navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.

[extreme sarc off]

Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-22 08:10

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