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Originally Posted by 12thMan
Very good perspective. And I think those of us who have worn the uniform, but didn't engage in warfare or combat tend to compare ourselves to and elevate those who did. Whether intentional or not, right or wrong, I think that's the case.
I enlisted in the Navy from 1990-1995 and was stationed on the USS Tripoli during the Gulf War. During my stint, we deployed several times to the Gulf region.
About a month before I was scheduled to join the ship, she was struck by a mine explosion. Totally blew a 16 x 20 ft hole in the hull of the ship. Fortunately no lives were lost, just a few scrapes and bruises. I think one guy tried to get a Purple Heart out of it, but was denied. He sort of became a laughing stock later on. The funny thing was because I had orders in hand when she got hit, even though I wasn't onboard at the time, I later received a few medals and ribbons awarded to the ship. I felt it was unfair for me to receive anything seeing that I was in a barracks in back woods Mississippi training. After they repaired her, I later joined the ship, and she went back out to continue mine sweeping ops.
Something about being in harms way made me sort of appreciate what the crew went through prior to me joining.
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i'm gonna guess an officer, all the officers in my unit tried the same thing, except they tried for bronze stars after sitting in air conditioned tents for 11 months, fortunatly the were all denied as well
hopfully all those still serving will have great day, and the troops wounded at fort hood will have a speedy recovery