Building a new monument
I watched President Obama placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier recently and found it soothing and refreshing. Hopefully our nation will never forget the sacrifices of the military members who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of said nation. I know I'll never forget. There are so many heroes who have been saluted and honored.
I propose a new monument. The Monument to the Unsung Soldier. Yes, there are soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, but we've never worried about changing the name of the Tomb of the Unknown to something more inclusive.
I'm talking about people like John J. Major. He rose to the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force, served nearly three decades and was a positive force in the lives of so many men and women he served with. There are tens of thousand like him. Served honorably with distinction, and aside from a few service medals and a pension for those who reached retirement age, little else.
Obviously the names of such men and women could not be listed in their entirety. But the monument would be enough.
* * *
On a somewhat related note, one has to wonder why the Army chose to downgrade the recommendation to award the Medal of Honor to SSGT Earl Plumlee to a Silver Star. His actions in an attack in Afghanistan sure sound worthy of an award higher than a Silver Star. Multiple general officers endorsed the nomination for the Medal of Honor.
But it turns out that the Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) investigated SSGT Plumlee for allegedly attempting to illegally sell a rifle scope online. No charges were brought and the investigation was closed, but there is much speculation that only "perfect" soldiers are being put forward by the military leadership for the nation's highest award for valor. Actually, it might be worth taking a look at the criteria for this particular medal as codified in the law.
Please note that there is nothing about how one's conduct off the battlefield has anything to do with whether or not a person is deserving of our nation's highest honor. Only their actions on the field of battle should be the subject of deliberation and decision-making regarding the award of the Medal of Honor.
* * *
Random Ponderings:
The head of sports for NBC wants NHL players not to grow beards during the playoffs? Get serious.
American Airlines has no business trying to avoid compensating the woman who was forced to crawl onto their plane and to her seat, because they wouldn't put a ramp in place to handle her wheelchair. Pay the lady, jerks.
Two boxers and two soccer players were the highest paid athletes for 2015. Interesting. Wonder if that will change the athletic choices of kids pinning their hopes on getting rich by being an athlete?
Homer and Marge Simpson are splitting up. A really important split like this calls for the skills of a divorce lawyer like Raoul Felder, Sorrell Trope or Arnold Becker.
Brian Williams won't be back to work for NBC News, or at least that's the rumor. Seems like the right move by the network. His credibility is shot.
Phil Hellmuth has won more World Series of Poker bracelets than any other poker player. His "brat" act is his schtick and he's given evidence of this by announcing he will give his latest WSOP bracelet to the family of the late Dave Goldberg. Nice work, Poker Brat.
Since Tomorrowland is tanking, will George Clooney start handing out refunds to people who paid to see it? I'd like my $14.29 back if that's the case.
After reading an article about a woman who advocates eating the placenta, I had to grab these images:
Will the U. S. Supreme Court overturn Obamacare over four little words? Stay tuned.
Fox News needs to open the Republican Debate in New Hampshire to all candidates. I'm dying to watch Donald Trump die onstage in that debate.
There's something wrong with a system where public university presidents can earn more than twice what the President of the United States earns.
I propose a new monument. The Monument to the Unsung Soldier. Yes, there are soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, but we've never worried about changing the name of the Tomb of the Unknown to something more inclusive.
I'm talking about people like John J. Major. He rose to the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force, served nearly three decades and was a positive force in the lives of so many men and women he served with. There are tens of thousand like him. Served honorably with distinction, and aside from a few service medals and a pension for those who reached retirement age, little else.
Obviously the names of such men and women could not be listed in their entirety. But the monument would be enough.
* * *
On a somewhat related note, one has to wonder why the Army chose to downgrade the recommendation to award the Medal of Honor to SSGT Earl Plumlee to a Silver Star. His actions in an attack in Afghanistan sure sound worthy of an award higher than a Silver Star. Multiple general officers endorsed the nomination for the Medal of Honor.
But it turns out that the Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) investigated SSGT Plumlee for allegedly attempting to illegally sell a rifle scope online. No charges were brought and the investigation was closed, but there is much speculation that only "perfect" soldiers are being put forward by the military leadership for the nation's highest award for valor. Actually, it might be worth taking a look at the criteria for this particular medal as codified in the law.
10 U. S. C. § 3741
The President may award, and present in the
name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons
and appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the Army,
distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty—
(3)
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.
Please note that there is nothing about how one's conduct off the battlefield has anything to do with whether or not a person is deserving of our nation's highest honor. Only their actions on the field of battle should be the subject of deliberation and decision-making regarding the award of the Medal of Honor.
* * *
Random Ponderings:
The head of sports for NBC wants NHL players not to grow beards during the playoffs? Get serious.
American Airlines has no business trying to avoid compensating the woman who was forced to crawl onto their plane and to her seat, because they wouldn't put a ramp in place to handle her wheelchair. Pay the lady, jerks.
Two boxers and two soccer players were the highest paid athletes for 2015. Interesting. Wonder if that will change the athletic choices of kids pinning their hopes on getting rich by being an athlete?
Homer and Marge Simpson are splitting up. A really important split like this calls for the skills of a divorce lawyer like Raoul Felder, Sorrell Trope or Arnold Becker.
Brian Williams won't be back to work for NBC News, or at least that's the rumor. Seems like the right move by the network. His credibility is shot.
Phil Hellmuth has won more World Series of Poker bracelets than any other poker player. His "brat" act is his schtick and he's given evidence of this by announcing he will give his latest WSOP bracelet to the family of the late Dave Goldberg. Nice work, Poker Brat.
Since Tomorrowland is tanking, will George Clooney start handing out refunds to people who paid to see it? I'd like my $14.29 back if that's the case.
After reading an article about a woman who advocates eating the placenta, I had to grab these images:
Will the U. S. Supreme Court overturn Obamacare over four little words? Stay tuned.
Fox News needs to open the Republican Debate in New Hampshire to all candidates. I'm dying to watch Donald Trump die onstage in that debate.
There's something wrong with a system where public university presidents can earn more than twice what the President of the United States earns.
posted by me at 10:36 PM
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