The new Congressional Medal of Honor Library recently opened in Charlston, SC. The Congressional Medal of Honor was created by President Lincoln during the height of the Civil War in 1863. Since its inception, 3,460 men and women have been awarded the medal for gallant acts of bravey both in person and posthumously.
Every day, though especially on Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. At this very moment, over 150,000 US troops are on active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Kosovo, and the Phillipines. Most soldiers will downplay the significance of their bravey by claiming that they are "just doing their job". While we may be fighting an extremely unpopular war, I have to wonder why only 2 servicemen, less than one ten-thousandth of a percent of the troops on active duty, have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroism in the fight against terrorism.
To put it in perspective, during the Haiti Campaign of 1919-1920, 6 servicemen were awarded the Medal. 59 were awarded the Medal during the Boxer Rebellion, and 245 were awarded the Medal for their gallentry in Vietnam. While I have absolutely no doubt that each of the 3,460 recipients deserved this highest honor, surely there are folks in uniform at this moment who are just as worthy.
It's not unusual for servicemen to wait decades to be recognized. The Asian-American soliders of the 36th Infantry Division weren't given the Medal of Honor for their efforts during the Second World War until July 2000. However, waiting over 5 decades to honor someone should be the exception, not the rule.
Awarding the Medal of Honor to exceptional soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen won't make us any more popular in Iraq nor will it bring our troops home any sooner. However, we ask our soldiers to do the impossible under difficult conditions for meger pay and sub-par healthcare. Recognition is an extremely motivating factor, both for the soldiers and for the American public. If the Bush administration is going to continue to ignore popular opinion to fight this war, then the least he can do is honor those who fight it.
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"If the Bush administration is going to continue to ignore popular opinion to fight this war, then the least he can do is honor those who fight it."
Are you serious? People of thier own free will decided to go invade and slaughter a country and now we're getting guilt-tripped because we're not thankful enough? I'm not saying don't support the troops. I am saying there is no draft that I know of.
It sucks for those who were already on active duty before September 11th. It sucks for those who signed up because the only beacon of hope they saw was joining the military. But let me tell ya, I know many active military men and women who deserve a sharp kick in the pants way before any medal.
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