Comments on: Above and Beyond the Call of Duty in Iraq http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty-in-iraq-spec-ross-andrew-mcginnis-usa/ Your Source for Defense and Military News Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:18:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dwight Zimmerman http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty-in-iraq-spec-ross-andrew-mcginnis-usa/#comment-6401 Dwight Zimmerman Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:15:29 +0000 http://theyearindefense.com/?p=3139#comment-6401 The 26th Maine "saga" has a twist. Only about a third of the unit re-enlisted, but all--including the two-thirds that returned to Maine--received the decoration. Small wonder that the awardings stuck in the craws of those who received it at the risk of their lives in combat. The 26th Maine situation eventually inspired the creation of the Medal of Honor Legion which became the pressure group that finally caused the Army to establish a commission to review all awardings, which led to the Purge of 1917 in which 911 Medals of Honor were rescinded. At the risk of sounding like a shill, the full story of the Medal of Honor's history is in my book, UNCOMMON VALOR. The 26th Maine “saga” has a twist. Only about a third of the unit re-enlisted, but all–including the two-thirds that returned to Maine–received the decoration. Small wonder that the awardings stuck in the craws of those who received it at the risk of their lives in combat. The 26th Maine situation eventually inspired the creation of the Medal of Honor Legion which became the pressure group that finally caused the Army to establish a commission to review all awardings, which led to the Purge of 1917 in which 911 Medals of Honor were rescinded. At the risk of sounding like a shill, the full story of the Medal of Honor’s history is in my book, UNCOMMON VALOR.

]]> By: Chuck Oldham (Editor) http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty-in-iraq-spec-ross-andrew-mcginnis-usa/#comment-6398 Chuck Oldham (Editor) Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:18:59 +0000 http://theyearindefense.com/?p=3139#comment-6398 It's interesting that over the history of the medal, the bar has been raised and lowered considerably. For example, President Abraham Lincoln awarded the entire 864 men of the 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment the Medal of Honor, supposedly as an inducement for them to continue to serve. The awards were later rescinded by a committee formed to study frivolous awards of the medal. It’s interesting that over the history of the medal, the bar has been raised and lowered considerably.

For example, President Abraham Lincoln awarded the entire 864 men of the 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment the Medal of Honor, supposedly as an inducement for them to continue to serve.

The awards were later rescinded by a committee formed to study frivolous awards of the medal.

]]> By: EJ Leaveck http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty-in-iraq-spec-ross-andrew-mcginnis-usa/#comment-6392 EJ Leaveck Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:05:39 +0000 http://theyearindefense.com/?p=3139#comment-6392 The bar I believe has been raised not intentially but raised none the less. The people submitting and approving these awards grew up with tails of great heroism from the Great War. I think that we unintentionally discredit anything we do when we compare them to the ideal we grew up worshiping / fantasizing / dreaming. I most definetely don't believe it should be reserved for sacrifice of life only. I just want people to understand that a medal awarded for political / feel good reasons defeats the purpose of the medal. The soldier receiving the medal never conducts himself with a manner of intent to earning the medal. It is his brother to his left that wants a fitting award for a fitting soldier. Where my feeling on the subject comes from, I think, is that here Ross smothered a grenade and took the blunt of the blast. To me, if anyone else earns a MOH they better do something of equal valor. Because on a personal level if someone does something "less heroic" it short changes the medal a brother has earned. Either way I hope this doesn't distract from your outstanding article about an outstanding soldier. The bar I believe has been raised not intentially but raised none the less. The people submitting and approving these awards grew up with tails of great heroism from the Great War. I think that we unintentionally discredit anything we do when we compare them to the ideal we grew up worshiping / fantasizing / dreaming.

I most definetely don’t believe it should be reserved for sacrifice of life only. I just want people to understand that a medal awarded for political / feel good reasons defeats the purpose of the medal. The soldier receiving the medal never conducts himself with a manner of intent to earning the medal. It is his brother to his left that wants a fitting award for a fitting soldier.

Where my feeling on the subject comes from, I think, is that here Ross smothered a grenade and took the blunt of the blast. To me, if anyone else earns a MOH they better do something of equal valor. Because on a personal level if someone does something “less heroic” it short changes the medal a brother has earned.

Either way I hope this doesn’t distract from your outstanding article about an outstanding soldier.

]]> By: Chuck Oldham (Editor) http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty-in-iraq-spec-ross-andrew-mcginnis-usa/#comment-6378 Chuck Oldham (Editor) Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:59:16 +0000 http://theyearindefense.com/?p=3139#comment-6378 EJ, you make some very good points. In the current conflicts, all actions are essentially small unit actions, and in that context, the battlefield truism that each soldier, Marine, airman, or sailor is fighting for the members of his (or her) squad or platoon has never been more apt, which in many cases means the bar of sacrifice seems to be set higher for those determining who is deserving of a Medal of Honor. Just the same, I would hate for the Medal of Honor to become the equivalent to the U.K.'s Victoria Cross, where it has been historically rare for anyone living to receive the medal. EJ, you make some very good points. In the current conflicts, all actions are essentially small unit actions, and in that context, the battlefield truism that each soldier, Marine, airman, or sailor is fighting for the members of his (or her) squad or platoon has never been more apt, which in many cases means the bar of sacrifice seems to be set higher for those determining who is deserving of a Medal of Honor.

Just the same, I would hate for the Medal of Honor to become the equivalent to the U.K.’s Victoria Cross, where it has been historically rare for anyone living to receive the medal.

]]> By: EJ Leaveck http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty-in-iraq-spec-ross-andrew-mcginnis-usa/#comment-6370 EJ Leaveck Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:12:25 +0000 http://theyearindefense.com/?p=3139#comment-6370 I understand where you are coming from when you hope that more suriviving soldiers are awarded the MOH. But you have to also understand the type of conflic our forces are currently engaged. Historically during the Vietnam conflict and earlier we were faced with a larger enemy force and engaged in larger scale battles. It is much more difficult in the current operational spectrum to conduct yourself in a manner fitting for the Medal of Honor when the enemy attacks in quick short bursts. There's no Batallion of advancing germans to single handly hold back at the trigger of a Mod Duece. There aren't hordes of Vietnamese storming over a c-wire perimeter. Ultimately what I'm saying is that I don't want to see the Honor bestowed and credited to the MOH because people wish those whom are still living may receive a couple of these medals. Allow the conduct of a soldier be the sole accredidation of the award not the desire of others to see more of it. I understand where you are coming from when you hope that more suriviving soldiers are awarded the MOH. But you have to also understand the type of conflic our forces are currently engaged. Historically during the Vietnam conflict and earlier we were faced with a larger enemy force and engaged in larger scale battles. It is much more difficult in the current operational spectrum to conduct yourself in a manner fitting for the Medal of Honor when the enemy attacks in quick short bursts. There’s no Batallion of advancing germans to single handly hold back at the trigger of a Mod Duece. There aren’t hordes of Vietnamese storming over a c-wire perimeter. Ultimately what I’m saying is that I don’t want to see the Honor bestowed and credited to the MOH because people wish those whom are still living may receive a couple of these medals. Allow the conduct of a soldier be the sole accredidation of the award not the desire of others to see more of it.

]]> By: Pampley http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty-in-iraq-spec-ross-andrew-mcginnis-usa/#comment-224 Pampley Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:41:24 +0000 http://theyearindefense.com/?p=3139#comment-224 The courage and bravery of the American fighting man has been demonstrated throughout history. Unfortunately, most of them that receive the Medal of Honor receive our countries highest honor only after giving their lives in combat. I know that we have brave soldiers who are still in our ranks that deserve this very medal. I would like to see more of them receive our nation's highest honor. I don't understand why a man or woman must die performing an heroic act in order to be acknowledged for their actions of extreme bravery. Maybe in the future we'll see more recommendations for this high honor being bestowed upon those who are still living. The courage and bravery of the American fighting man has been demonstrated throughout history. Unfortunately, most of them that receive the Medal of Honor receive our countries highest honor only after giving their lives in combat. I know that we have brave soldiers who are still in our ranks that deserve this very medal. I would like to see more of them receive our nation’s highest honor. I don’t understand why a man or woman must die performing an heroic act in order to be acknowledged for their actions of extreme bravery. Maybe in the future we’ll see more recommendations for this high honor being bestowed upon those who are still living.

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