Are military medals today worthless pins?

Question

In the 2004 election the Swift Boat veterans for truth claimed that John Kerry's silver star, bronze star, and 3 purple hearts were all not deserved. These accusations were taken seriously by the GOP and analyzed every day on Fox News. Obviously if a man with no political connections can get 2 medals for heroism and 3 medals for injury and have all of them be undeserved there is a huge problem with handing out any medals. What has the military done since Vietnam to ensure that the medals they hand out arent just worthless pins?

Answer 1

If you earned the ribbons then they are invaluable.
If not ribbons are worthless colored pins.

Answer 2

In every war there have been men who have medals and sometimes do not really deserve them. The process and who was granted them was flawed in a way and it has gotten better. Kerry was just a fool but he still did some do and his superiors signed off on it. The medal is worth it if you know that it was earned because that is the measure of a man. I have been awarded a silver star and two bronze stars over a long career. Whatever. I did what I did and though others may tell me that I would be technically some sort of hero it matters not. The real thing is though I did well I just did what I was taught through my training and took care of by team. I don't consider myself a hero but only did was right at the time. I was utterly terrified for what I did to earn a silver star in the 90s. It is nice to get one if honestly earned. But even so what matter is not the medal but wife, family and being the right sort that cares for all be it civilian or military. You know know in your heart you earned the bling.

Answer 3

Once a politician ALWAYS a politician; it is just in their blood to manipulate the "SYSTEM".

With the Swift Boats they were constantly in the "SH**" so stories were rampant. If one is in combat and dives under the bed suffering a cut it can be spun into a PURPLE HEART by the right people.

Here is a good one for you. I have 3 or 4 rows (can't remember which) a citation (goes on the right side by itself) and an Expert marksmanship medal. The expert is the only one that I actually know what I did to receive it.

I just did my job to the best of my ability and they continued to give them to me; so maybe you are right.

I had been out a few years and realized that I never actually got my medals. I wrote a letter to Gov. Pete Wilson and asked for his help. About a month later there was a package and it contained the medals and the documentation with a note of thanks. There was no Good Conduct Medal; seems I did NOT rate it because I got out 30 days early to start college.

There are watch-dog groups that track these COWARDS that claim to be something that they weren't and they will ALL be BUSTED. ANYBODY can go to an Army/Navy store and buy almost any medal that they want.

Once you have EARNED one you will also answer your own question.
J
USN 1964-
In Country
"Honorary" Marine Corps DI

Answer 4

As with all programs there can be some abuse of the system. Most medals for valor must come with affidavits of conduct from other sources but the individual. I.E. his commanding officer or other platoon or Flight personnel involved with the actions in question. But some like the purple heart are issued for injuries received during actions against hostile forces. and all that is required is a check of medical records and unit patrol data to issue.
Congress has recently passed a law making it illegal to wear or claim ribbons or medals that are not annotated in the military members records. It might be hard to track and enforce, but its another tool to get the cowards and fibbers out of the way...

Answer 5

Medals are just metal and fabric........it is a symbol of what you did to be awarded the medal. Medals are not won.......they are awarded. You will never hear a true soldier say they won one or probably even talk about the medal. It is an honor to be awarded a medal or even nominated for one.

Answer 6

If the medals are documented in the service record, then they are well deserved. If not, then they are not worth the ribbon they are attached to or the chest they are pined to.

Answer 7

excerpt from link re criteria for awarding Purple Heart
quote
(2) A wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required, however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.

(3) When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award.

unquote

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Heart

excerpt from link re criteria for awarding Silver Star and Bronze Star
The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States not justifying a higher award. It may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S Armed Forces, distinguishes him or herself by extraordinary heroism involving one of the following actions:

In action against an enemy of the United States
While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party
The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. Soldiers who received a citation for gallantry in action during World War I were eligible to apply to have the citation converted to the Silver Star Medal.

The Bronze Star Medal is another United States decoration which may be awarded for heroism, but unlike the Silver Star Medal may also be awarded for meritorious service while engaged in combat operations. When awarded for valor, the Bronze Star Medal comes with the Valor device. The Bronze Star Medal is often issued to individuals who performed notable accomplishments, but not to the level required of the Silver Star Medal. The Valorous Unit Award is considered the unit level equivalent of a Silver Star Medal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Star
____

Bottom line....Kerry's military superiors at the time recommended him for these wards.
They didn't know he was gonna run for president or anything like that.
I believe he deserves those awards.
___

more on ribbons/medals medals....
then there is the ribbon that everybody gets.
The National Defense Ribbon

excerpt from link

The National Defense Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Created in 1953, the National Defense Service Medal was intended to be a “blanket campaign medal” issued to any member of the United States military who served in a designated time period of which a “national emergency” had been declared. As of 2006, it is the oldest service medal which is still issued to the active military.

In the fifty years since the creation of the National Defense Service Medal, it has been authorized for the following time periods.

June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 for service during the Korean War
January 1, 1961 to August 14, 1974 for service during the Vietnam War
August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995 for service during the Gulf War
September 11, 2001 to a date to be announced for service during the War on Terrorism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Service_Medal

note: re Swift Boat vets.
I don't know how many vets you know but a lot of them can be plain old cranky complainers.

Answer 8

I have seen them for sale in Truckstops

Answer 9

They are worthless unless you earned them yourself.

Answer 10

if nothing else they are worth promotion points lol