Honors Bittersweet For Army Specialist

Awarded Him The Second-Highest Army Distinction, 23-Year-Old Doesn't Feel Like A Hero

(CBS)  The 82nd Airborne Division on Thursday was on parade for their commander in chief, who has asked so much - perhaps too much - of them. Beneath all that spit and polish were some very raw emotions.

"It sucks," said Spc. Christopher Corriveau.

"What do you mean?" CBS News national security correspondent David Martin asked.

"It sucks that the rest of my team is dead," Corriveau said.

The president pinned on Corriveau Thursday a Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor.

You'd think the 23-year-old soldier would feel covered in glory.

"You're having trouble talking about it even now, aren't you?" Martin asked.

"Yeah," Corriveau said.

In August 2007, Corriveau's sniper team was ambushed and outnumbered 10-to-one. He fought his way out and then now has been honored by the president.

His two buddies, Sgt. Joshua Morley and Spec. Tracy Willis, didn't make it.

"The three of us - me, Morley and Willis - that was our team," he said. "Any one of those guys would have taken a bullet for me and likewise for them. I would have taken a bullet for any of them."

"So these were your best buddies?" Martin asked.

"Yeah, they were some of the best friends I ever had," Corriveau said.

All the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony can't change that.

Is he at least proud of what he did?

"I wasn't thinking clearly," he said. "I almost wanted to die that day on the roof with my brothers."

To us, Corriveau and the rest of the soldiers honored Thursday, two of them posthumously so that their families received the medals, are heroes.

But that's one of war's many myths.

"Do you feel like a hero?" Martin asked.

"No. I did my job," he said.

Corriveau's unit goes back to Iraq this fall, but he won't be with them. He's getting out of the Army and plans to go to college.

News articles such as this is why CBS News is failing in the ratings--

I found the following comments in the interview trite and revealing of CBS distain for those things military. An award ceremony for the brave is not/not POMP and CIRCUMSTANCE. It is no wonder CBS News viewership ratings is declining- you lack introspection and credibility.

MARTIN: So these were your best buddies?
CORRIVEAU: Yeah. They were some of the best friends I ever had.
MARTIN: ALL THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF TODAY''S CEREMONY CAN''T CHANGE THAT. (CAPS intentional)
MARTIN: You must be proud of what you did.

[scouts082707]

I know Chris in Real life. He does feel hurt and very depressed. My dad Sgt. First class Eric richardson trained those guys and they where not just a platoon. they where a true "family" that is why Chris said brothers. Chris is a very well mannered man and im glad that i know him as well as the 82nd scout snipers

[scouts082707]

I know Chris in Real life. He does feel hurt and very depressed. My dad Sgt. First class Eric richardson trained those guys and they where not just a platoon. they where a true "family" that is why Chris said brothers. Chris is a very well mannered man and im glad that i know him as well as the 82nd scout snipers

[patriot12436]

oldgirl53
You are honored tio know this fine man. I wish i had had the pleasure. I am glad he is planning on moving on with his life but i hope he gets the counseling he will need. He is feeling guilty for surviving when his friends didn''t. It is a very hard hing for him to live with. He is a hero in every sense of the word.

[patriot12436]

bluestardad
I read yesterday that congress had passed the new G.I. Bill overwhelmingly. Guess they are starting to worry about keeeping their jobs in November.

[patriot12436]

perceptions5
The great thing is i am proud when i read a story about a true hero like this man. Nothing any news reporter can say can diminish what a true hero has accomplished at any time. Where is Ernie Pyle when we need him most.

[patriot12436]

cornbiker
I served 20 years and am 100% disabled Vietnam vet. My son was hurt with rangers and is 100% disabled , my daughter just returned from Iraq and shealso saw combar, my youngest son is enlisting for army rangers. I do support our troops but i do not support th war in Iraq. Bush started this illegal war becauase he could get rich from it. He doesn''t care who gets killed as long as he gets his blood money. So yes you can support the troops and not the war. Our troops do not choose where they get to fight, they are trained as soldiers and follow orders. I don''t know if you have served or seen combar. This man will go thru hell the rest of his life. He feels guilty because he survived and his friends didn''t. I hope he gets the help he needs to get thru this emotionally. He is a hero in every sense of the word.

[oldgirl53]

I have known Spc. Christopher Corriveau since the day he was born. He is a wonderful caring young man whom I am so very proud of. I came home from work, sat on my living room couch and turned on the CBS news on the 22nd and there was Chris, my heart fell to my feet.
Everyday I work with our soldiers who have suffered through our many wars, but to see someone you once held their little hand or tuck into bed at night speak of the sad day in August of 2007 just broke my heart.
Today I brought your story to my office so I can share your story with others. Chris you are a hero in my eyes and a hero for others as well. We all love you, Justin (Lewiston Maine), Joshua (Goose Creek SC) and Mom Gail (Goose Creek SC).

[billorights]

Finally - A REAL story that is not all sugar coated by the Right Wing Media. - Posted by watcher269 at 02:41 AM : May 23, 2008

Right Wing Media? Did you run out of your meds?

Cornbiker, you are not correct. I did not support the Viet Nam war, but I enlisted, and served for 21 years. I do not support this war because I see lots in common with Nam. The corruption, theft of funds (contracts) Blackwater problems, failure of local forces to step up and take over (just like AVARN troops). BUT, I do support our troops. HeII, I miss MY troops.

I didnt get to go to Desert Storm, that was my first shore tour away from aircraft, my boys did. I found it most distasteful that a year afterwards Kuwait had schoolbooks written without mentioning what our people brought to the war, and that seems to be the norm from that side of the world. OPEC is made up of our allies, and they are the ones that are jacking up the gas prices. Sort of like an economic terrorist attack, wouldnt you say?

Oh, I seem to remember that Iraq was going to pay for our part in their security. This payment sure would bring down the cost of the war that everybody is screaming about wouldnt it?