Valor
The Army has multiple awards that are given for ‘valor’. I rarely find myself in a situation to judge others, and when placed in such a situation, I try and refrain as it’s not my place to pass judgment on others.
Today however was different; today my platoon sergeant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. In the line standing with him were several other Sergeant’s First Class, multiple Lieutenants, and a whole bunch of other officers and upper enlisted personnel who had no reason being up there receiving an award like the Bronze Star.
I can name two other individuals who I knew and had the opportunity to serve with (in different facets) who have also received the award, and it is because of them that I feel this article needs to be written.
Cpl. William T. Warford (K.I.A. September 5th, 2007) and Sgt. Andrew McConnell (K.I.A. September 14th, 2009) both received the Bronze Star Medal posthumously. They both volunteered to join the Army in a time of war, and gave their lives for their country fighting to protect Americans the world over from Terrorism. Although the details of their sacrifices were different, the values that they both held were the same.
Sergeant First Class Foster (my Platoon Sergeant) has served three tours of duty as both an Infantryman and a Scout. He has led in multiple combat operations, and received several other awards for his service. This deployment he has led the BRIGADE COMMANDER’S Personal Security Detachment through multiple missions, and because of his direct leadership, we’ve succeeded in our mission. I have no argument against him receiving this award as he has proven himself to be a truly valorous soldier.
My issue is with the ‘less’-er individuals that were standing next to him…
GUT-‘LESS’… SPINE-’LESS’… USE-‘LESS’. At some point over the past few years, it has become “customary” for persons in the ranks of Sergeant First Class and above to be awarded the Bronze Star Medal simply for deploying. Nine-tenths of the people who were standing up there waiting to receive their awards have never left the base, let alone had an opportunity to show even the simplest form of valor. I am sad that my friends who were KILLED IN ACTION were awarded the same medal that is apparently given out like candy. If anyone tries to award me for such MEDIOCRITY, I would either decline it, or have to common decency to eat my own gun.
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