Why So Few Medals of Honor in Recent Wars?

(AP)  Eight years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. About 4,000 members of the U.S. military killed in action. More than 34,000 wounded. Just six considered worthy of America's highest military award for battlefield valor.

For some veterans and members of Congress, that last number doesn't add up.

They question how so few Medals of Honor - all awarded posthumously - could be bestowed for wars of such magnitude and duration.

Pentagon officials say the nature of war has changed. Laser-guided missiles destroy enemy positions without putting soldiers in harm's way. Insurgents deploy roadside bombs rather than engage in firefights they're certain to lose.

Those explanations don't tell the whole story, said Rep. Duncan Hunter, a first-term lawmaker who served combat tours as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has sponsored legislation that directs the defense secretary to review current trends in awarding the Medal of Honor to determine what's behind the low count.

The bill passed the House. If Senate negotiators go along, Secretary Robert Gates would have to report back by March 31.

"It seems like our collective standard for who gets the Medal of Honor has been raised," said Hunter, R-Calif.

"The basis of warfare is you've got to take ground and then you've got to hold it. That takes people walking into houses, running up hills, killing bad guys and then staying there and rebuffing counterattacks," he said. "That's how warfare has always been no matter how many bombs you drop and how many predators you have flying around."

Military officials said they welcome the opportunity to conduct an in-depth review of the award process. Still, they dispute Hunter's theory.

"Nominations go through no more or less scrutiny than in the past," said Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman. "The standard for the Medal of Honor is high, as one would expect for our nation's most prestigious military decoration."

AMVETS, a veterans' advocacy group, said it supports Hunter's efforts. It held a banquet for Medal of Honors in January, and the low number of medals was a big topic of discussion, said Jay Agg, the group's communications director.

The Medal of Honor has been awarded 3,467 times since the Civil War. Almost half - 1,522 - were awarded in that conflict alone. The next highest tally came from World War II - 464. In the Vietnam War, 244 were awarded.

To earn the medal, at least two eyewitnesses have to view a deed so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. No margin of doubt is allowed. Nominations make their way through military channels until eventually they're approved at the highest levels of the Pentagon and then by the president.

Drew Dix, 64, of Mimbres, N.M., received the medal for actions taken during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam when he risked his life during a 56-hour battle to rescue civilians. He said he didn't feel comfortable judging the current Medal of Honor process.

"We've trusted the military to fight this war," Dix said. "We've got to trust the military in all aspects of it, including the awarding of medals."

Jack Jacobs, 64, received the award for actions taken in Vietnam to rescue wounded soldiers. He said the Pentagon's explanation for the low Medal of Honor count is logical, but he would not rule out other factors because of the subjective nature of the award.

"I'm not a fan of single factor analysis," Jacobs said. "There are lots of reasons why things occur and that is only one of them. Human attitudes also play a great role."

Jacobs, a military analysis at MSNBC, predicted the war in Afghanistan will involve more of the kind of close combat that leads to Medal of Honors being awarded.

It's unclear exactly how many soldiers have been nominated for the award from the two wars.

Seven have made it all the way to the defense secretary, and six were approved. The exception is Sgt. Rafael Peralta of San Diego. Hunter said the Peralta case shows that a higher standard is being used for the medal than in previous wars.

Peralta died on Nov. 15, 2004, during fighting in Fallujah, Iraq. The military's investigation showed he was probably hit by friendly fire from a member of his unit as they engaged insurgents inside a house.

Witnesses said Peralta, a Mexican immigrant who became a U.S. citizen while in the Marines, fell to the ground face first after being shot in the crossfire. A fleeing insurgent threw a hand grenade into the room, which bounced off a couch and landed near Peralta's head.

"Sgt. Peralta grabbed the grenade and pulled it underneath him while we took cover," said an unidentified soldier whose name is blacked out as part of the investigative file the military released publicly.

Peralta's nomination was sent back for further investigation after a preliminary autopsy report stated the head wound would have been immediately incapacitating and "he could not have executed any meaningful motions."

In the end, Lt. General Richard F. Natonski, stuck with his recommendation: "I believe Sergeant Peralta made a conscious, heroic decision to cover the grenade and minimize the effects he knew it would have on the rest of his Marine team."

Gates assemble an independent panel to review the nomination - something he did not do in the other six cases sent his way. The reviewers included a former commanding general, a Medal of Honor recipient, a neurosurgeon and two pathologists.

"The reviewers each individually concluded that the evidence did not meet the exacting 'no doubt' standard necessary to support award of the MOH," Gates said in a letter to Hunter.

Robert Reynolds, a lance corporal at the time, was about three feet to five feet behind Peralta when the grenade exploded. He has no doubt that Peralta purposefully attempted to place the grenade underneath himself to save others.

"It wasn't just something he barely did. He physically reached out and pulled it into his body," said Reynolds, 31, and now a corrections office and father of two daughters in Ritzville, Wash.

In the end, Peralta received the Navy Cross, the branch's second highest honor. Several California lawmakers have petitioned President Barack Obama to order a review of Peralta's case. AMVETS said all recipients of the second-highest honor for bravery for their branch of the military should have their case reviewed to determine if their actions merit the Medal of Honor.


Six Chosen for Medal of Honor

Six members of the U.S. military who were killed in action have been chosen for the Medal of Honor during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The military's description of their actions follow:

Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Navy

Led a four-member team against between 30 and 40 Taliban fighters in the vicinity of Asadabad, Afghanistan.

When the primary communicator fell mortally wounded, Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for assistance for his injured colleagues. Realizing the impossibility of communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. His actions deprived him of cover and exposed him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his headquarters, Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his location and requested immediate support for his team. He continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded.

Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Marine Corps

While attempting to search vehicles for weapons near the town of Karabilah, Iraq, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Dunham.

In the ensuing struggle, he saw the insurgent release a grenade. Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Without hesitation, Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his colleagues from the blast.

Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis, Army

Manned a machine gun as an insurgent dropped a grenade into his vehicle in northeast Baghdad. Racting quickly, he yelled "grenade."

Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, Navy

While providing protection from a rooftop in Ramadi, Iraq, an insurgent threw a grenade that hit Monsoor in the chest.

He threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of two teammates.

Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Army

He was helping to build a holding area for prisoners of war near the Baghdad airport when his unit was attacked by a company-sized enemy force. As the fight developed, Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and he organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier.

Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded.

His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers.

Staff Sgt. Jared C. Monti, Army

He was shot as he attempted for a third time to rescue a wounded comrade while conducting combat operations in the mountains near Gowardesh, Afghanistan.

The actions took place as he ordered firepower that broke the enemy attacks and killed 22 enemy fighters.

President Barack Obama will present the award on Sept. 17 at a White House ceremony.

Sources:
• U.S. Army Center of Military History

• Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti Memorial Scholarship Fund Inc.

For more info:
• Medal of Honor Statistics
• amvets.org
By Associated Press Writer Kevin Freking

[godawgs2]

I can't believe that our gov't denied Sgt. Peralta the medal of honor with eye witnesses to what he did to save his comrades. This is an outrage!!

[brooke50]

I was not going to post, however, having read some of these posts, I had to change my mind. Please, this is in no way meant as disrespectful of our military stationed over in Iraq.

1) WAR - Only Congress may issue a Declaration of War. May I See the Iraq War Declaration? NO? That's right, there isn't one, becasue it is not a war. Tha last war was World War 2.

The Korean War - WRONG - Korean CONFLICT
The Vietnam War - WRONG - Vietnam POLICE ACTION
The Gulf War - WRONG - Operation Desert Storm - +50 other names (In Iraq)
The Iraq War - WRONG - Operation Freedom

2) Why the push to make heros out of Iraq? Are we trying to make up for or disrespect of Vietnam Vets? They were not called heros, they were called "baby killers" - Yet, a lot of their "battles" with the enemy lasted days/months - Battle of "Khe Sahn" - 1/21 to 4/8/1968 - They faced and fought 3 divisions of enemy (a division is between 10-30,000 soldiers) -

Iraq is a push button tech war, and the "battles" are skirmishes between a handful of rebels - not well trained soldiers.

3) The Congressional Medal Of Honor - Our highest award for valor, to be given to those who distinquished themsleves in the face of the enemy in battle.

It is expected of every soldier to do his duty to his/her fullest ability - That is his job. The Metal of Honor is not some piece of scarp to be given out to every Tom, Dick or Jane, who feels they did more than their share. Please see the following:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a flamethrower operator in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Rykuyu Islands, 7 May 1945. Quick to take action when his company was pinned down in a valley and suffered resultant heavy casualties under blanketing machinegun fire emanating from a high ridge to the front, Pfc. Schwab, unable to flank the enemy emplacement because of steep cliffs on either side, advanced up the face of the ridge in bold defiance of the intense barrage and, skillfully directing the fire of his flamethrower, quickly demolished the hostile gun position, thereby enabling his company to occupy the ridge. Suddenly a second enemy machinegun opened fire, killing and wounding several marines with its initial bursts. Estimating with split-second decision the tactical difficulties confronting his comrades, Pfc. Schwab elected to continue his l-man assault despite a diminished supply of fuel for his flamethrower. Cool and indomitable, he moved forward in the face of a direct concentration of hostile fire, relentlessly closed the enemy position and attacked. Although severely wounded by a final vicious blast from the enemy weapon, Pfc. Schwab had succeeded in destroying 2 highly strategic Japanese gun positions during a critical stage of the operation and, by his dauntless, single-handed efforts, had materially furthered the advance of his company. His aggressive initiative, outstanding valor and professional skill throughout the bitter conflict sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."

Now, please name any soldier in Iraq, who has distinguished themselves in such a battle - this is what is meant by "Above And Beyond" - everythong else is just doing his/her "Duty".

[native_warrior_USMC]

Man of honor
A Marine's bravery earns him the Navy's second-highest medal.
By Denny Boyles / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Thursday, May 4, 2006, 9:48 AM)

Fresno resident Jarrett Kraft, who will receive the military's second-highest award for valor in a ceremony next week, said Wednesday that he doesn't feel like a hero.

"I did what Marines have been doing for several hundred years," Kraft said. "I just tried to take care of my fellow Marines."

Kraft, 22, will be awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his service with the Marine Corps in Fallujah, Iraq.

The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor and is awarded to Marines or sailors who have distinguished themselves with extraordinary heroism in combat, usually by risking their lives to save others.

Kraft was originally nominated for the Medal of Honor but asked the Marine Corps to withdraw that nomination.

"I lost Marines that day," Kraft said. "I didn't feel I deserved that medal."

Those who have read the citation for Kraft's Navy Cross award disagree.

"It's an amazing story," said 1st Sgt. Kent Johnson, who is assigned to the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center in Fresno. Johnson, who is helping organize Kraft's Navy Cross award ceremony, said Kraft showed amazing devotion to his fellow Marines while under attack.

"He put his life on the line many times that day," Johnson said. "They teach you to care for your fellow Marines, and he showed that he did."

Marine Corps records show that at 9:15 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2004, Sgt. Kraft was leading a group of Marines attempting to clear insurgents from densely packed homes on a residential street. Kraft was standing outside a house talking on a radio to Marine commanders when he heard gunfire coming from inside.

Kraft ran inside the house and up a staircase, where he found a nightmarish scene: Six of his Marines were pinned against a wall, firing their weapons through a doorway where more than 40 insurgents carrying grenades and AK-47 assault rifles had waited in ambush. More insurgents then appeared on rooftops of neighboring houses, spraying a deadly crossover of bullets at the small Marine force in the house and at other Marines outside.

"There was heavy machine-gun fire coming through that door, and grenades flying both ways," Kraft said. "Then a grenade went off. I don't know if it was thrown from inside, or one of ours that they threw back at us, but when it exploded it killed one of my Marines and threw me backwards down a staircase."

The grenade had also peppered Kraft's body with shrapnel, something he wouldn't realize until the firefight ended several hours later.

Briefly knocked out by the blast, Kraft regained consciousness when another Marine fell on him. Kraft and the other Marine then crawled down the stairs. Once outside, Kraft spotted two of his men who were seriously injured and unable to reach safety.

Moving through constant machine-gun fire, Kraft helped the two men reach a nearby truck, then returned to the house to resume efforts to retrieve the bodies of the Marines killed during the gunfight.

"The Marines have a code that we don't leave anyone behind, even if they are dead," Kraft said. "The insurgents are suicidal, many of them are on drugs, and they will do anything possible to not only kill a Marine, but to take his body and drag it around."

When a first attempt to enter the house failed, Kraft returned a second and then a third time, all while facing continuous gunfire, with Marines being injured or killed all around him.

When the gunfight ended, Kraft and his men had retrieved three fallen Marines, killed 28 insurgents and wounded many others. He had also personally saved the lives of several other Marines wounded during the firefight.

Kraft was discharged from the Marines in July 2005 and applied to the Fresno City College Police Academy, where he will begin training for his next career in June. He also was hired as a cadet by the Fresno Police Department but had not told anyone at the department that he was nominated for the Navy Cross.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said that once he learned what Kraft had done, he wasn't surprised Kraft had kept quiet about it.

"We have other officers who were decorated by the military and they usually don't talk about it," Dyer said. "They are just like Jarrett in that sense, they don't make a big deal out of it.

"He has seen, in 90 minutes, what other people will never see in a lifetime. I'm humbled to know he is employed with our department."

[sabre1111]

Doctors trying to calculate theoreticals and what-ifs are favored over actual live witnesses?

Also, I find it hard to believe that no one still alive did not go "above and beyond the call" in eitehr Iraq or Afghanistan.

[whosaid1]

Fat fingers this morning...."been", "is"

[whosaid1]

FURTHER !!

[whosaid1]

As a Army retiree of 30+ years...I respectfully disagree with Rep Hunter about the number of MOH's awarded. The Medal of Honor is awarded to those that "distinguishes him- or herself by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his [or her] life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States " If one is honest...those simple requirements eliminate many who have otherwise demonstrated Valor. Those of us who have personally "served" with individuals who were awarded the Medal of Honor, and were witness to their actions.....maybe view it a little different than those who only know about it from the news....etc. The blog here seems to have taken on a "theme" that our troops are not receiving the awards they deserve. Nothing is father from the truth...there have be countless "lesser" awards presented....(DSC, Silver Star, Bronze Star). I think changing the "standard" in the interest of NUMBERS...it a bad idea. Leave it to the the military LEADERS...they'll do the right thing !!

[Dgunner]

I was asked by a reporter in vietnam if door gunner were given medals ? I said yes sometimes I have combat medical badge with clusters and the bronze for bravery and all the standard medals foriegn service presidential unit citations etc. I told him my job was to rescue and trans port the real heros and to evavuate from the hottest spots.The medals are for the ground forces. There isn't much heroism in flyimg in and killing evrything with lungs. The hard part was getting out with all the wounded.I was pretty popular among the bug pilots. The would ask my CO for permission to borrow me . They said the indian has a clear and thorough understanding of our mission here. That was true and the fact i didnt like anyone for sending me there so i slaughtered them all by the acre.

[kerry4ever]

America should beware of medal inflation. The Royal Irish Regiment, part of Britain's armed forces in Helmand, have been found to be giving them out like biscuits. "I say you are a hero, You say I am a hero, We say he's a hero" etc, etc.

[cs4466]

"Why So Few Medals of Honor in Recent Wars?"

Easy! Because all wars since World War II have nothing honorable about them. They were started by political choice, not by necessity or lack of choice. Each has been a failure from its inception - regardless of who "won". Individual honor has been overshadowed by corrupt political systems attempting to exploit one another. Honor? No. You cannot build honor on a base of falsehood. It simply is not possible.

[tsoide]

only those timid ones who know they don't have the courage and commitment shown by those exceptional men would denigrate and make light of those instances of sacrifice.

those posts reveal that those people know they would fail when the test came.