05-19-2010, 09:09
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#1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubberneck
I am glad to see that there is still a willingness to honor Lt. Cushing's bravery a 147 years after the fact. What I don't understand is why there is no willingness to honor living solider's today who have shown as much bravery as Lt Cushing did at Gettysburg.
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There is a lot of speculation as to why, in the last 9 years of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, there have only been 6 MOHs awarded.
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05-19-2010, 09:14
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#2
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Asset
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Utah Bob
There is a lot of speculation as to why, in the last 9 years of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, there have only been 6 MOHs awarded.
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The article says 3,447 medals have been issued with 1,500 of them being for the Civil War. So if you remove those 1500, you have 1900 of them for all the rest of all of our wars combined, I'd bet that, statistically, 6 in 9 years, with the amount of people who fight wars now as opposed to how many fought in wars prior, that is probably not far off.
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05-19-2010, 09:33
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#3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ReefBlue
The article says 3,447 medals have been issued with 1,500 of them being for the Civil War. So if you remove those 1500, you have 1900 of them for all the rest of all of our wars combined, I'd bet that, statistically, 6 in 9 years, with the amount of people who fight wars now as opposed to how many fought in wars prior, that is probably not far off.
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I disagree. It is not a numbers game. You can't say X many MOHs are awarded by average per conflict. There were 55 during the 2 year Boxer Rebellion.
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05-19-2010, 09:44
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#4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ReefBlue
The article says 3,447 medals have been issued with 1,500 of them being for the Civil War. So if you remove those 1500, you have 1900 of them for all the rest of all of our wars combined, I'd bet that, statistically, 6 in 9 years, with the amount of people who fight wars now as opposed to how many fought in wars prior, that is probably not far off.
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Statistically, I don't think it is likely you know the soldiers that I do.
As far as Cushing goes, this is one of the more well-deserved awards from that period.
Cushing's Battery was the focus of the Confederate bombardment prior to Pickett's charge, where it was shot to pieces, was at the high water mark at the Angle when the Confederate infantry overran his battery, and was where Lewis Armistead was mortally wounded with his hand on one of Cushing's guns, rallying his Virginians.
TR
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05-19-2010, 10:33
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#5
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I find this a little troubling. This is our nation's highest honor. To hand one out, this long after the fact, could begin to smell of politics.
Not to overstate the obvious, but we must ensure that the Medal of Honor remains exactly what it is; this nation's highest honor for battlefield valor. While there will clearly be those who deserve the honor that will never receive it, I would prefer that to a situation on the other end of the spectrum, wherein those who do not deserve the Medal receive it. Example: The Brits have so bastardized "knighting" people that Mick Jagger and Elton John are now knights. Also, look at the chest of any Russian general officer---they must get medals for opening field rations properly.
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05-19-2010, 13:09
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#6
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!
Agree with TR!
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Red Flag 1 is offline
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05-19-2010, 15:21
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#7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
Statistically, I don't think it is likely you know the soldiers that I do.
As far as Cushing goes, this is one of the more well-deserved awards from that period.
Cushing's Battery was the focus of the Confederate bombardment prior to Pickett's charge, where it was shot to pieces, was at the high water mark at the Angle when the Confederate infantry overran his battery, and was where Lewis Armistead was mortally wounded with his hand on one of Cushing's guns, rallying his Virginians.
TR
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And that my friends, was one hell of a fight!
Rest in well deserved peace Lt. We honor your sacrifice.
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05-19-2010, 16:12
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#8
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Quote:
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I find this a little troubling. This is our nation's highest honor. To hand one out, this long after the fact, could begin to smell of politics.
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I don't.
Remember - times change and at the time of LT Cushing's actions, the MOH was the only award given for any such valorous act. The several awards we have today to recognize a multitude of levels of such bravery did not come into being until WW1 and later.
"Cushing is the most famous lieutenant killed during the entire Civil War, and few who stop at Gettysburg fail to hear of the boy who died behind the wheel of his last gun as Pickett's Virginians surged by." -- Blue & Gray Magazine
It seems to me as if LT Alonzo Hereford Cushing's bravery rightfully deserves such recognition..then or today.
And so it goes... 
Richard's $.02 
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05-19-2010, 16:22
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#9
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05-19-2010, 16:38
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#10
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Rest well, Red Leg. Your bravery helped turn the tide and save the nation. Well deserved.
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05-20-2010, 07:57
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#11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard
Remember - times change and at the time of LT Cushing's actions, the MOH was the only award given for any such valorous act. The several awards we have today to recognize a multitude of levels of such bravery did not come into being until WW1 and later.
"Cushing is the most famous lieutenant killed during the entire Civil War, and few who stop at Gettysburg fail to hear of the boy who died behind the wheel of his last gun as Pickett's Virginians surged by." -- Blue & Gray Magazine
Richard's $.02
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I'll be damned. I learn something on this forum every day. Thank you Richard
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"And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods?"
Thomas Babington Macaulay
"One man with courage makes a majority." Andrew Jackson
"Well Mr. Carpetbagger. We got something in this territory called the Missouri boat ride."
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