Veterans... especially those with medals.... what do you think?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

Larry Thurlow says he "can't recall" the exact wording of his Bronze Star Citation.

I find this to be utter bull shit.

I can recite, from memory, the exact wording of my medal citations, and I bet most everyone else so decorated can too.

Your opinion?

[TroubleMan]

1. I got a Navy Achievement Medal

I know what it was for, but I don't remember the exact wording. I got it in 1995, so it was't too long ago.

[Demonaut]

19. when I got my Good Conduct Award I read the citation back to front

but ask me what it said....can't remember now, this was in 86. but the gist of it stated that I was "good"

[NMDemDist2]

2. kick, inquiring minds what to know n/t

[Old and In the Way]

3. You make bullshit accusations against another comrade-in-arms

concerning details of a battle....and you can't recall the wording of your medal citation for this battle? If he can't remember that, why should anyone think he can recall the battle itself?

[UTUSN]

4. Mine Were the Round Ones, the Generic Ones

that don't come with individual citations, except for the Combat Action Ribbon (not a medal) that was issued to EVERYONE (200 crew) on the ship. That "citation" came off a mimeograph machine.

The Campaign medals (Vietnam Campaign and the ones from the South Vietnam government) were just word of mouth: "You're here, you wear THESE like everybody else on your ship." There are little entries in the personnel record notating what you've got, but you never see your records, really, till you finally get out and are issued some papers, among them the DD214 that just lists the things you're entitled to.

These shameless vets and their civilian manipulators are just preying on CIVILIAN ignorance of military CUSTOMS.

Actual vets have always been cynical about military b.s. See "Catch 22" and the classic MAULDIN cartoon:

"Just gimme a coupla aspirin.
I already got a Purple Heart."

[Catch22Dem]

7. when you got the mimeograph citation

Did you sniff it? Was it still warm?

(apologies to our younger readers who might not understand this.) ;)

[UTUSN]

10. LOL. See, People Too Young to Know Will Think Something Blue

Same process is going on with the civilians making a big deal over the medals: What they IMAGINE is WAY off.

[Guy Fawkes]

11. I'm a "younger reader" and I get it...

then again, our horribly underfunded schools had mimeograph machines until I was in 6th grade...

[Catch22Dem]

34. HAHAHAHA

Damn, that's sad! I'm sure there are still schools with those things though.

[ranosgol]

5. Navy Veteran 1991-1997

I also have a Navy achievement medal but it wasn't for anything heroic it was for overhauling a sonar system which i had little formal training on when my ship was in a shipyard. The navy achievement medal got watered down during Admiral Boorda's reign. The navy achievement medal used to take the secretary of the navy i think but now it only needs the commanding officers approval of the base or ship.

I also got a good conduct medal but that was for four years of service without getting into trouble everyone gets that if they do four years without getting into formal trouble.

Most of the other awards are until awards from the ships i served on anyone one the ship received them.

[TroubleMan]

9. Yeah, my NAM was for computer work....nothing heroic

nt

[jbane]

17. I too am a...

I too am the recipient of an office NAM.

[TroubleMan]

22. Don't get me wrong...I worked my ass off

I put in 12-16 hour days for about 4 months straight.

However, I was in from 1992-2000 - The Clinton Years - the safest time ever to be in the military. No cannon fodder duty for me, but no chance to be heroic either.

[Catch22Dem]

6. I don't have THEIR kind of medals

But I have several others. You know, the peacetime kind. However, I know EXACTLY what I got Achievment and Commendation medals for. Now, if I had something like a Bronze Star, you better believe, I'd know that fucking citation by heart. You just KNOW he does.

I don't disrespect him for what he did in Vietnam. I disrespect him for what he's doing to a fellow vet. Fucking disgraceful.

[ScreamingMeemie]

32. And you can bet he didn't "lose" it.

:eyes: Crazy aren't they? sigh.

[ranosgol]

8. Kerry should say.

I served in Vietnam when other chose not too. I protested Vietnam when other chose not too. If my protesting the war or my service in it upsets you then vote for Bush, he did neither.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

12. Bingo. I agree with that whole heartedly.

He was right to be against the war. And he was right that attrocities were committed at EVERY level up and down the chain of command.
For someone who was there to deny that, well, I have to wonder if they were really there or not.
For people who were not there and have not read the Pentagon Papers, well, they have some reading to do.

[ranosgol]

13. Military Reality Check

Those who have never been in the military usually have their opinion shaped by movies. In fact the military is for the most part dull and boring and you wind up doing alot of things that are not glorious by any stretch of the imagination.

The military has the same problems as the rest of society.

It has drug addicts, rapists, thieves, you name it.

Just cause you put on a uniform in my opinion doe snot automatically make you a hero.

There are plenty of losers who should never had worn a uniform when i served

US Navy 1991-1997

[BlueCollar]

14. medals/awards/ribbons/citations

In the end it boils down to one thing...

CAN YOU SHOW ME A DD-214 that accounts for ALL YOUR TIME OR NOT GEORGE?

on edit: USN Patrol Squadron 40 1979-1983

[ranosgol]

15. YEP DD214 shows all major medals, tours, etc

If George wants his record cleaned up show the DD214 it is THE document of truth.

[rppper]

16. i got 2 navy units of commendation....

along with 5 other medals. the exact wording escapes me, but i got one for launching tommahawks into iraq during the 1st gulf war and the other for participating in the naval blockade of kosovo we did on my 3rd sub in the med...my other medals were pretty generic...good conduct award, sharp-shooter pistol and rifle, sea service and the defence service medal.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

18. Okay, so the exact wording escapes you, but my point it

you do remember the incident and what it entailed, no?

I think maybe it is different when it is an individual award like a star or heart maybe.

[oneighty]

20. memememe

and me.

I have much of my service record (Copies) both medical and otherwise. The reason I have them is because I filed the standard form 180 (Yes 180) and requested certain items. I was sent a good deal more than requested (Free I might add) in there are described medals awarded and why, and a little line with my signature on it acknowledging receipt thereof.

Any service man can do that. Quick simple and free. In later years I had to submit appropriate combat verification to receive the "Combat action ribbon" (there is no medal associated with this ribbon). Also I had to request the Korean Service Medal which I later received with really neat papers from Kim Dae-jung: President of the Republic of Korea. (Fifty years later)

To sum it up. If any service man cannot provide these papers they have got to be lazy or lying. Excepting of course some papers that were in fact burned up in a fire. Those being mostly army WW2.

180

PS. I should anyone wish to challenge what I say send me your address and I will proudly send you the proof. First five only. Stuff gets expensive.

Hee hee hee. 180

[vetwife]

21. My vet has a Bronze star and other Medals

It is listed on the DD214 and the citations? Well if he can't remember (which may be true if he has a mental problem and it appears he does) it can be shown to him in black and white if he orders his records. So his excuse does not hold water ! The military does not hand out medals. the military does not award bogus purple hearts and this Fool has discredited all veterans who have shown acts of heroism. HE is a paid operative in my opinion and needs to be in one of two places. A ..Mental ward at the VA or B
Jail for being a traitor.
My husband is outraged and he also said this guy probably was one of the guys who committed the crimes which were real and doesn't want to admit it and that is his real problem with Kerry. These guys are mad and bitter and suffering from guilt and think discrediting Kerry will make it all better. It won't. It happened, Kerry told the truth, they know it, end of story ! They are naked and exposed to the truth ..AGAIN ! About how they commited things that were not right during Vietnam.

[BlueCollar]

24. who knows what they did?

Bottom line...a DD-214 tells all...Where's Bush's and what was he doing in Alabama...we know Kerry was in Vietnam

the rest of this story is Bullshit

VP-40
USN
1979-1983

[rasputin1952]

23. Damn, where did all these Squids come from????

I won't go into detail here, as I honestly believe that every award I received, with he exceptions of the Good Conduct Medal, and The National Defense Medal, were earned for me, by those that served with me. If it were not for them, I would have never gotten an award.

Here's the Skinny though, I cannot recall word for word, every citation, some of them were pretty long. I can recall some exact dates, and others are obscure, kind of depends on the particular award, and for what I was being commended for.

I can come forth with my DD-214, and prove every award I was given. I can also come up with my uniform, which has all of its ribbons, etc attached. In fact, and this was a rare moment for me, I was called a "traitor" because I did not agree with the invasion of Iraq. At the next Town Meeting, i showed up with my uniform and draped it over the chair next to me, DD-214 placed upon it....I was never called a "traitor" again. But I also don't want to be called a hero. You have to understand, the real heroes, of all of our wars, IMHO, are those that are at rest under marble or bronze markers; those that are confined to VA hospitalsd with horrid wounds, and those that are MIA/POW's.

If I were forced to, I could dig around and find the original citations...but to me, it is vainglorious to do so. I have seen many soldiers do things far braver than anything I ever did, and they came home with nothing.

Please understand, this is just me; people can talk about anything they want, in any way they want, on how they got medals and awards.

I have a very serious problem with this administration trying to besmirch any veteran. I see a piece of crap CiC that went AWOL, was privledged, and never earned ANYTHING in his life. For this individual, or anyone, besides Powell, in this administration to besmirch someone who had the dignity and honor to serve their country, they get nothing but scorn from me.

Sorry, didn't mean to turn this into a rant....but this is a serious issue for me. Far too many have paid far too high a price for the ambitions of this particular slug to remain as president.

Thanks one and all for serving! It is an honor to be a part of this thread!

[BlueCollar]

25. Rasputin's gotta be a grunt...

LOL

[rasputin1952]

28. LOL...This was true, seems like so long ago now...

After crunching unknown millions of miles in boots, I went into the Medical Corps and made it to Med Plt Sgt.....All ancient history now though...:( Sometimes, I wish I were with those guys though, especially at night when I remember all that once was. One thing these guys aren't plagued with though, is rain...:)

[BlueCollar]

31. Glad to know you

I think about those midwatches too...

[rasputin1952]

35. The Brother/Sisterhood of servicemembers never seems to ...

go away. It is like all of the interservice disappears when we have to deal with issues, like war or vets benefits. Personally, I never liked the inter-service rivalries, I figure, if you serve your nation in the Armed Forces, regardless of service, you deserve to be respected by a grateful nation.

I respect everyone who served honorably, regardless of Branch of Service, especially Enlisted men and women, after all, we are the one who actually had to do the fighting, and fixing up the mistakes the Officers made...:)

[TroubleMan]

26. Hey...I was in the Marines....but we get Navy Achievment Medals

Because the Marines fall under the Division Of The Navy.

Hence the joke: Marine stands for "My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment."

[BlueCollar]

27. Marines get Navy Achievement medals

for finding their way back to the liberty launch

:hi:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

33. Now now... I know some salty salts who have had problems

with that sort of thing as well.

Let us not pick on our scarlet-legged bretheren in the sea services of the United States, shall we?

sez me, one who was in the Navy, and the Marine Corps at the same time

and if you can't figure out what that means, then you were not there.

[rasputin1952]

30. USMC...we used to call you guys...

Uncle Sam's Misguided Children...:)

I know a guy who was in the AF, and got a Bronze Star for tossing stuff out the back of a C-130, precisely what he was supposed to do...guess he did it better than others....:evilgrin:

[TroubleMan]

36. You were in the ARMY?....Ain't Ready (for) Marines Yet

just kidding...I repsect all the services, too.

[MrScorpio]

29. It's been proven that the man is a lying sack of shit

I don't care what he says one way or the other