The definition of valor
As of today, 3,471 people have been awarded the Medal of Honor. That's since it was authorized by Congress during the Civil War. Most recipients in modern times received their award posthumously. During the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, two members of the Army's Delta Force, Gary Gordon and Randall Shugart were awarded the medal for their heroic actions in trying to save the crew of a U.S. helicopter that crashed. Both men died in the attempt.
As the highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor takes precedence above all other awards. The next highest award for valor (there are service awards that rank in various places in precedence among decoration for valor) is the Distinguished Service Cross (Navy Cross for sailors and Marines, Air Force Cross for Air Force members). Third in precedence among awards for valor is the Silver Star, and below that is the Bronze Star.
Now, the Department of Defense has decided to create a new award for valor, and this one doesn't require something that all of those awards listed above do (although Bronze Stars are often awarded for 'service' rather than for 'valor). The Distinguished Warfare Medal has been created to recognize cyber-warriors and drone operators who work in air-conditioned rooms, often far from away from the field of battle. That their work is critical to military operations is not in question. But what is in question is whether or not what they are doing is worthy of recognition by a medal that will outrank a Bronze Star in order of precedence.
Other than tripping and falling, or suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, the 'warriors' who will be awarded this medal perform their duties with no risk of life or limb. I don't mean to denigrate their contributions or efforts. I just want to point out there is little valor in doing what they do, since they are perfectly safe from harm. Particularly when our government continues to treat the victims of the mass shooting at Fort Hood in 2009 as having suffered from "workplace violence" rather than domestic terrorism.
This award will undoubtedly be referred to as the "Geek Medal" and rightly so. John L. Levitow was a loadmaster in the Air Force during Vietnam. He was on a mission aboard a gunship where he was expected to do no more than set the ejection and ignition controls on magnesium flares that he would pass to the gunner to be launched. But when his plane was hit by a mortar shell and he was wounded by shrapnel. 40 pieces of shrapnel. He still managed to spot a burning magnesium flare that was about to set off nearly 20,000 rounds of ammo. He crawled to the flare in spite of the severe angle of the plane (it was banking to get away from enemy fire), picked it up and carried it to the cargo door, tossing it. He save the plane and crew and his valor was properly recognized by the award of the Medal of Honor.
He wasn't an infantryman, or a pilot, but he did fly into harm's way. He did risk his life. His actions were valorous. Flying a drone, or preventing a cyber attack just isn't.
Create an award for those who fight our nation's battles on keyboards or with joysticks. But place it properly in precedence, below the awards for valor and heroism.
As the highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor takes precedence above all other awards. The next highest award for valor (there are service awards that rank in various places in precedence among decoration for valor) is the Distinguished Service Cross (Navy Cross for sailors and Marines, Air Force Cross for Air Force members). Third in precedence among awards for valor is the Silver Star, and below that is the Bronze Star.
Now, the Department of Defense has decided to create a new award for valor, and this one doesn't require something that all of those awards listed above do (although Bronze Stars are often awarded for 'service' rather than for 'valor). The Distinguished Warfare Medal has been created to recognize cyber-warriors and drone operators who work in air-conditioned rooms, often far from away from the field of battle. That their work is critical to military operations is not in question. But what is in question is whether or not what they are doing is worthy of recognition by a medal that will outrank a Bronze Star in order of precedence.
Other than tripping and falling, or suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, the 'warriors' who will be awarded this medal perform their duties with no risk of life or limb. I don't mean to denigrate their contributions or efforts. I just want to point out there is little valor in doing what they do, since they are perfectly safe from harm. Particularly when our government continues to treat the victims of the mass shooting at Fort Hood in 2009 as having suffered from "workplace violence" rather than domestic terrorism.
This award will undoubtedly be referred to as the "Geek Medal" and rightly so. John L. Levitow was a loadmaster in the Air Force during Vietnam. He was on a mission aboard a gunship where he was expected to do no more than set the ejection and ignition controls on magnesium flares that he would pass to the gunner to be launched. But when his plane was hit by a mortar shell and he was wounded by shrapnel. 40 pieces of shrapnel. He still managed to spot a burning magnesium flare that was about to set off nearly 20,000 rounds of ammo. He crawled to the flare in spite of the severe angle of the plane (it was banking to get away from enemy fire), picked it up and carried it to the cargo door, tossing it. He save the plane and crew and his valor was properly recognized by the award of the Medal of Honor.
He wasn't an infantryman, or a pilot, but he did fly into harm's way. He did risk his life. His actions were valorous. Flying a drone, or preventing a cyber attack just isn't.
Create an award for those who fight our nation's battles on keyboards or with joysticks. But place it properly in precedence, below the awards for valor and heroism.
posted by me at 7:43 PM
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