View Full Version : "dropping off" Valor Awards ????
Does anyone else think "dropping off" valor awards as a little insulting??
http://www.military.com/news/article/medal-awarded-for-vietnam-era-covert-op.html?ESRC=eb.nl
Medal Awarded for Vietnam-Era Covert Op, September 22, 2011, Knight Ridder, by Howard Altman
It was September 1968, and Richard Crawford was on a secret mission in a country where U.S. troops weren't supposed to be..............
[quote]
Last week, they received a huge victory when one of Nelson's representatives dropped off a box of medals -- 33 in all for 15 men, mostly Silver and Bronze stars -- at Crawford's home.
Sunday evening, Crawford and several of the other men flew to Las Vegas for the annual Special Operations Association convention.
There, Crawford will hand the surviving 14 men their long-overdue awards today.
"It's about time," he said.
ZonieDiver
09-22-2011, 06:30
Does anyone else think "dropping off" valor awards as a little insulting??
Sorry, JJ. I have to disagree here.
It's not a LITTLE insulting, its VERY insulting.
It seems to me that the Defense Secretary, at the very least, would want to make a public/media event at SOAR to present several Silver and Bronze Stars to men such as these. That would have been an awesome presentation.
BMT (RIP)
09-22-2011, 09:39
Nelson is a DIM!!
Need I say more.
BMT
greenberetTFS
09-22-2011, 10:40
Sorry, JJ. I have to disagree here.
It's not a LITTLE insulting, its VERY insulting.
Totally agree with ZD,this was handled very poorly,very poorly indeed.....:mad::mad::mad:
Big Teddy :munchin
Badger52
09-22-2011, 11:51
I am glad that one who campaigned so long & hard to get that recognition will be able to be with those who really matter at their presentation. To me that is a clearly positive take-away, rather than focus on political dimwits who demonstrate their lack of .... aw hell, probably a long list of stuff.
About bloody time, RIP those who've passed and watch over us, well deserved, and well done!
'Salud'!
On a visceral level I can't help but feel - perhaps incorrectly - that many would just like VN vets to go away. I'll see the Senator's bio, his "Active and Reserve" service, the typical 6-yr commitment 65-71, immediately after which he began his elective office career... probably a character flaw on my part to suspect that someone might be embarassed to be around such valorous men.
one-zero
09-23-2011, 16:09
I was at the presentation of awards last night, here in Vegas. Sen Nelson sent a 'video' w/his message. A female WO1 who is delivering in 4 months (AG corp? or whatever admin is called now) delivered the awards/papers, but Gen/s Singlaub & Bargewell did the pinning. the WO1 was the soldier who assisted in reconstructing/digging up the VN era records from SOG.
Bottom Line - they got awarded in front of those they cared about & respected most so there wasn't complete injustice. But the higher in DOD/Civil leadership should've been taken to task for not stepping up as well.
1-0
Nelson is a DIM!!
Need I say more.
BMT
I'm not a supporter of Bill Nelson, but why would a Senator from Florida be responsible for presenting medals to 14 men who aren't residents of Florida ceremony held in Las Vegas, Nevada? Shouldn't the DA /DOD be doing it?
Nelson presented the Bronze Star awarded to a deceased Vietnam vet to his daughter in Florida last month, but why the SOG medals??
http://citrusdaily.com/sen-bill-nelson-presents-bronze-star-award-veterans-daughter/2011/08/23/82746.html
:munchin
I was at the presentation of awards last night, here in Vegas. Sen Nelson sent a 'video' w/his message. A female WO1 who is delivering in 4 months (AG corp? or whatever admin is called now) delivered the awards/papers, but Gen/s Singlaub & Bargewell did the pinning. the WO1 was the soldier who assisted in reconstructing/digging up the VN era records from SOG.
Bottom Line - they got awarded in front of those they cared about & respected most so there wasn't complete injustice. But the higher in DOD/Civil leadership should've been taken to task for not stepping up as well.
1-0
Thanks,, This is good..
alright4u
09-25-2011, 04:42
It seems to me that the Defense Secretary, at the very least, would want to make a public/media event at SOAR to present several Silver and Bronze Stars to men such as these. That would have been an awesome presentation.
My wife and I saw this ceremony at the SOA banquet. These men were honored in front of their fellow soldiers. We also had Gen Singlaub and Gen Bargewell present.
One man remarked the Senator should have done this in Florida at another time. Another stated they should have gone to SOCOM. Some thought the SOA was appropriate.
I had a Ret O-6 next to me who was at Phu Bai in 66. He was OP-35 in 68-69 and came by CCS in late 68 to see why our awards were non existent.
Regardless, these men were honored. A young female Army clerk flew in from Nashville BNA airport straight through to bring the medals that same night.
There was a movie type camera at the front door, which was facing them.