Reply #6: Yeah! I got one as an enlisted member in the US Army! I consider....

[coreystone]

them quite similar to "Merit Badges" in the Cub Scouts. I really never new what I received it for; nor, did understand why I received a "Meritorious Service Award"?????

As far as "An Officer and A Gentleman"......the officers under whom I served were very good. Maybe I lucked out, I don't know.

I am a "Viet Nam Era" veteran who served in the US Army HQ in Heidelberg, Germany during the early seventies. I never served in Viet Nam!

During the late "sixties", I was attending college with a "2-S" deferment. I used to "hang" around with many real Viet Vets coming back for the GI Bill. Heard a lot of stories. Then, the most profound story that I was told by a source which I would consider to be MOST true and honest in his troubled reflections, was this: <paraphrased>

There was one time when a group of my fellow soldiers collected $1000.00 to have a Lieutenant eliminated. I took the money. One night I took out my M-16, and, hit him in the head. After, I went into Saigon and spent everything I had, to stay so F--- up on whatever drugs I could find for three days!

I could have been more descriptive of the conversation which was held 19 years ago. I am sure that there are members on this site, having truly been a Viet Nam Veterans, that may know of similar occurrences during their duty there. I could say that this individual's comrades may have felt that the Lieutenant was placing them in "UNDUE" jeopardy to advance his standing within the military.

WHAT IS "GOOD CONDUCT" IN AN UNDEFINED "MILITARY ACTION"?