Korean war chaplain to be awarded MOA w/V

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by CATO, Mar 12, 2013.


  1. CATO

    CATO Monkey+++

  2. DMGoddess

    DMGoddess Monkey+++

    It's for show. I used to believe some of them, now I'm just another old cynic.
     
  3. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    The guy deserves the medal. He does NOT deserve being a showpiece.
     
  4. DMGoddess

    DMGoddess Monkey+++

    No doubt, but why else do you think they waited 60 years? They needed something 'patriotic' and 'pro-veteran' to do, so they pulled this commendation out of mothballs where it was going to stay because they don't think of chaplains as soldiers. I'm not arguing that he doesn't deserve the medal, I think every soldier that went over there and came out with his marbles and body intact deserves one, that was a brutal war. I'm saying that they wouldn't have given it to him without needing to stage a dog and pony show.
     
  5. bfayer

    bfayer Keeper Of The Faith

    Sometimes people do the right thing for the wrong reason.

    I believe this is one of those times.
     
  6. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    It doesn't necessarily mean that it is Political...
    There was a Old Guy that lived up the Inlet, here, who was a WWII Veteran and was Wounded in the Battle for Okinawa. He was a Marine Platoon Sargent, for a Comms Platoon who had a Navel Gunnery Officer attached, to direct the Navel Gunfire, during the Landing and in support of the Landing Forces. He saved his Platoon from a deadly Mortar Barrage, by disregarding the Officers Orders and moving them into a Cave, for the night, and saved the Officers and many of his Platoons members, by carrying each of them, to the Cave, then treating their wounds, and then carrying them, each, back to the Relief Point. He then went back, and was directing Navel Gunfire, when he was wounded, and left for dead. He was found and evacuated, the next morning, and the War ended, while he was at Guam, recovering. He was shipped to SanFran, and Mustered out. What he didn't know, was that for his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star with V and two Palm Clusters. However, since he never returned to his Unit, before being Mustered Out, it was never awarded to him. 40 Years later the Marine Corps figured out, where he lived, and sent him, His Award and Medal, and I, as PostMaster, was directed by the Marine Commandant, to present him the Award. I had a lot of respect for this fellow, before, but after reading the Commendation, and presenting the Award, it was enhanced significantly. He never talked about the War much, but We ALL had tears that day. A Once in a Lifetime experience, for me.
     
    kellory likes this.
  7. bfayer

    bfayer Keeper Of The Faith

    I was not trying to say the award was political, I was talking about the timing.

    I have no doubt they have a stack of these things and pull them out when needed for political points.

    Sequestration has hit DoD pretty hard, and they need some pro military press right now.
     
    CATO likes this.
  8. DMGoddess

    DMGoddess Monkey+++

    I've heard that a lot of WWII vets don't talk about it. My grandfather wouldn't talk about it. He said I didn't need nightmares at my age (about 5)
     
  9. DMGoddess

    DMGoddess Monkey+++

    You're absolutely right about the timing. It's not only the DoD that needs the pro military press. I wonder how many members of the upper escelons of government have actually done military service? I don't mean at a desk in the States, either.
     
  10. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Kerry is the only one that is mentioned. Riding something, he is, and it is NOT battlefield (in his case, swamp) actions. Whatever he earned in the delta, he dishonored after mustering out. The rest, if any, are properly not bragging.
     
  11. DMGoddess

    DMGoddess Monkey+++

    I just wonder, y'know? They're making the decisions, but I wonder if they know what they're talking about.
     
  12. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    If what i just read is true, that was a hell of a man. the timing is suspect, but the man was not. Give him his medal, it's much less than he deserves. [flag]
     
    bfayer likes this.
  13. DMGoddess

    DMGoddess Monkey+++

    As I said before, I think they deserve medals for getting out in one piece. I definitely think he deserves it. [flag]
     
  14. bfayer

    bfayer Keeper Of The Faith

    Agreed. Well said.
     
  15. Ajax

    Ajax Monkey++

    That's an amazing story and a good example of showing the love of Jesus Christ.
     
    bfayer likes this.
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