It's sad, to read (and I apologize for posting the entire article, can't find a link). I've seen these awarded for some very petty acts. I also know a guy with three Bronze Stars, every one of them very well deserved, but some people will now look at them and "know" he got them for something "not so great".


Washington Times
July 26, 2006
Pg. 5

Bronze Star Not As Shiny

Troops receive the medal for standard tasks

By Cristina Ramirez, Scripps Howard News Service

WASHINGTON -- In the hierarchy of military medals, the Bronze Star ranks in the top tier. But in the war on terror, some troops have been honored with the medal for going above and beyond the call of duty, while others received it for just getting the job done.

For example, the Bronze Star has been awarded to:

*Army Lt. Col. Andrew MacDonald, Soldier Systems Center chief of staff, for leading a team of military and civilians in delivering equipment to troops in Iraq.

*U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Patrick Burke for "transporting a hospital" from Pakistan to Afghanistan with "no pilferage or incident."

*Marine Cmdr. Alan Hansen, deputy force chaplain, for fulfilling his role as adviser and confidant to service members of all faiths during his deployment in Iraq.

*Navy Yeoman 1st Class Matthew S. Bryan for "repeatedly being under fire in Iraqi convoys," but also for planning a party -- the "Seabee Ball -- " in Baghdad.

As the fourth-highest medal, the Bronze is awarded for heroism or "meritorious achievement or service." According to the Military Awards Manual, a "meritorious" Bronze Star medal is given to individuals whose acts are "well above the expected performance of duty." For particular acts of bravery, military members receive a Bronze Star for Valor.

In the war on terror, the military has been generous. More than 47,000 Bronze Star medals have been awarded for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, the Wartime Award Statistics by the Military Awards Branch shows.

That is substantially more than the 30,000 Bronze Star medals given during the Korean War -- a war that involved triple the amount of troops and approximately 20 times more casualties.

About 500,000 troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more than 2,600 U.S. soldiers have been killed.

On the other hand, during the Korean War -- sometimes referred to as the Forgotten War -- more than 1.7 million U.S. troops served there, and more than 54,000 died, according to the Directorate for Information Operations and Reports in Washington.

Military experts offer some explanations for the difference in numbers. For one, military sociologist David R. Segal explained that for a service member to receive a Bronze Star, he or she must have been in "combat"; however, that word has changed in meaning.

"In the Korean War, the soldiers were in the front line fighting the enemy," said Segal, director of the Center for Research on Military Organization at the University of Maryland. "But in the Iraqi war, anybody who steps out on ground is considered to be 'in combat.' "

Another reason is that a close-knit infantry is fighting in the current wars, something different from previous wars. Military expert Paul Camacho said the solidarity of the soldiers easily catches the eye of the awards committee.

"There is quite a bit of heroism. Many soldiers (in Iraq) volunteer to continue to be overseas," said Camacho, director of special projects in the William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequence at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. "There is a lot of patriotism and camaraderie among soldiers because they are in units and get to know each other more."

The Army -- which awards the great majority of Bronze Stars -- defends its policies and stands behind the decisions of citing "meritorious achievement or service."

"The Soldier's chain of command is fully capable of reviewing the achievements behind each award and ensuring that adequate measures are in place for awards to be approved, commensurate with a Soldier's achievements," said Denise Harris, chief of policy for the Army Awards Branch in the Adjutant General Directorate, via e-mail. "The decision to approve any award, for any soldier, is really a chain of command issue and has worked well in all of our conflicts."

The Bronze has lost its top-tier status for some soldiers as well. As Camacho pointed out, soldiers care more about getting the job done than receiving a decoration. Former Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot Rick Hinshaw was deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne from February 2003 to January 2004, and to Kuwait with 3rd Army HQ from August 2004 to January 2005. He received a Bronze Star, but already misplaced it.

"Most soldiers get a medal and forget about it and drive on with the mission. The people who draw attention to their medals are usually people with an agenda, and that infuriates most soldiers," Hinshaw said via e-mail.

I would be curoius as to how many got a service cross or a silver star. I would assume the requirements for a silver star are still rigourus.

getting a bronze star without the V device tells the real story.

Gunny,
Whats a "V-Device"?

'V' = Valor

The Army gives out too many awards and officers are the main culprits. I agree with Gunny, the V device is the line of distinction. The BS has become a ticket puncher and not a real award to most people.

Im sure the medal of honor is still held to rigourus standars.

quote:

Originally posted by rppearso:
Im sure the medal of honor is still held to rigourus standars.

Spelled rigorous standards.
Damn,boy,you say you're highly educated but you can't spell worth a shit.
Try spell check.

A bronze star with or without the 'V' device is still a notable award.

quote:

"meritorious achievement or service."

can be many things to many different people.

Sometimes people get lesser awards than they deserve due to a varity of reasons, some get awards simply because they are in the right time and place. I've seen it happen all too often.

As for spell check on these posts? Its not really available, so most just do the best they can. Myself, I have to re-read several times before I post my comments, and I still make errors.

As do I,but we don't go spouting off how edumacated we are either.

quote:

Originally posted by thegunny:
'V' = Valor

Thanks!

its sad. my grandfather got the bronze star in korea for his work. and now it means nothing.

Matt -I don't think it changes the color of your Grandads Bronze Star.I have saw Bronze Stars given as Combat Operations Awards and most of them well deserved when Combat Operations are put in place with no Front Line it changed everything .Like Gunny said the (V) tells the story.I don't put much stock in a Reporters point of view especially in the Iraq they don't seem to care about anything positive all Negative or which makes the best seller list.

In a way I agree, still in some disagreement. I've seen justly awarded Bronze Stars to some, and plenty to those who didn't deserve it. Then again, I cannot blame policy. While I was there, E-6 Bradley Commanders and above got the Star, we got ARCOMs. If you did anything "noteworthy" your award commensurate with grade came with a 'V' Device. I'll take an ARCOM with 'V' or two over a Bronze Star. I know what I accomplished, and heck, I'm surprised I got recognition for it. In a way, I don't deserve a medal for doing my job. But it is appreciated.

On the other side, I see a lot of people running around with combat patches and Combat Action Badges, and I am a bit bitter. I have been neck-deep with HQDA trying to "fix" the issue. "..must be directly engaged or engaging the enemy.." is the qualifier. A mortar round exploding in your FOB is not DIRECT fire. Hence, we call it INDIRECT fire. But they wear their CABs with pride, they obviously need the ego boost. REMFs do their part, too. Its just degrading to give them the "They Shut Off My Internet Because Something Went Boom On The FOB" ribbon. Probably get downgraded to a "Whatever Pogue" award, anyhow.

The Bn Commanders driver recieved the B star for being his driver, I just asked him to wear his uniform into any VFW and explain to the Vets from vietnam and WWII how he got his, then listen to how they earned theirs.