Medals
Posted by Mark on March 24, 2006
Welcome Instapundit readers… Stay a while, have a look around.
Quick, name a Medal of Honor winner. No Google searches allowed.
Sargent York.
Audie Murphy.
Bet you’ve heard of those two. You may even remember James Stockdale. He was Ross Perot’s Vice Presidential running mate, and the butt of cruel jokes from Saturday Night Live and the MSM of the time. Here’s his story:
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while senior naval officer in the Prisoner of War camps of North Vietnam. Recognized by his captors as the leader in the Prisoners’ of War resistance to interrogation and in their refusal to participate in propaganda exploitation, Rear Adm. Stockdale was singled out for interrogation and attendant torture after he was detected in a covert communications attempt. Sensing the start of another purge, and aware that his earlier efforts at self-disfiguration to dissuade his captors from exploiting him for propaganda purposes had resulted in cruel and agonizing punishment, Rear Adm. Stockdale resolved to make himself a symbol of resistance regardless of personal sacrifice. He deliberately inflicted a near-mortal wound to his person in order to convince his captors of his willingness to give up his life rather than capitulate. He was subsequently discovered and revived by the North Vietnamese who, convinced of his indomitable spirit, abated in their employment of excessive harassment and torture toward all of the Prisoners of War. By his heroic action, at great peril to himself, he earned the everlasting gratitude of his fellow prisoners and of his country. Rear Adm. Stockdale’s valiant leadership and extraordinary courage in a hostile environment sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
He recieved the hearing problem that SNL had so much fun with thanks to the horrible torture he went through at the hands of the North Vietnamese.
All three were house hold names at the time of their awards ceremony. The press of their day held them up as the heroes they were.
Now, name the winner of the Medal of Honor on April 4, 2003…got it yet? No Search allowed. Come on. It was in all the papers, and recieved wall to wall coverage on all the Cable News networks when the awards ceremony occured last March. Chris Matthews had the family on Hardball. The Today show had them on, and Good Morning America did a special tribute to him. His picture and the story was the above the fold headline in The New York Times, The Washington Post and all the other papers…
Wait. None of that happened. The MSM didn’t give the story that kind of attention. At all. And still hasn’t.
Here’s the story:
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 30, 2005) — The White House announced March 29 that President George W. Bush will honor Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith by presenting his family the Medal of Honor on April 4, the second anniversary of his courageous actions during the Battle of Baghdad Airport.
Smith is the first to receive the militarys highest award for actions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In action near the Baghdad Airport on April 4, 2003, Smith, a Soldier in Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, working with units of the 3rd Infantry Division, was tasked to build a compound to hold enemy prisoners, when his small force came under attack by more than 100 enemies.
Smith threw two grenades and fired rocket launchers at the enemy before manning a .50-caliber machine gun on an M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier to protect his troops. While engaging an enemy attacking from three sides, Smith fired more than 300 rounds from the machinegun before being killed.
He prevented the enemy from overtaking his units position, protected his Task Forces flank, and defended the lives of more than 100 Soldiers, according to his award citation.
Smith was serving as a platoon sergeant in Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, Task Force 2-7, 3rd Infantry Division. He had been serving in the Army since October 1989.
The next time the MSM begins to defend their “balanced” coverage of the Iraqi Front, ask yourself why you’ve not heard of Paul Smith. Ask yourself why you’ve not heard the names of any of the Silver Star winners of the War on Terror, or any medal winner period. Now, go Google some heroes for yourself.
March 24, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Here, here, we must honor our heroes.
March 24, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Go to http://www.army.mil or to http://www.defendamerica.mil. those army run websites have tremendous resources about the untold stories of the valor and nobility of America’s soldiers. Not to mention the nobility of the cause.
March 24, 2006 at 1:41 pm
Be sure to check out Blackfive. Search for “people you should know”. Lots of heros you never heard about.
March 24, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Greater love hath no man that Paul Smith.
March 24, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Today’s media considers making a big deal out of heroism in war to be irresponsible jingoism.
March 24, 2006 at 2:35 pm
I was shamed to learn that I was unaware that we had awarded an MOH for the Iraq War. The SFC named in the article deserves our highest praise and consideration. THe MOH is awarded for EXTREME valor in the face of unimaginable danger. This young man gave his life for the lives of his comrades and nations. I will be sure to do a spot on him on my page.
March 24, 2006 at 3:20 pm
The Google search is telling…don’t see a single MSM outlet who has covered this hero.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Paul+R.+Smith
March 24, 2006 at 3:21 pm
The fascinating thing to me is that all the suggestions for heroes are from blogs, or alternative media. Where is NBC? ABC? CNN? Sad, isn’t it?
March 24, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Google a hero…
Via IP. Liberty Just In Case found one:
In action near the Baghdad Airport on April 4, 2003, (Paul) Smit……
March 24, 2006 at 4:36 pm
You are right…
I did a google news search and could not find the story…
TheStpetersburg times however must have covered it:
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/webspecials04/medalofhonor/
March 24, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Unheralded Medal of Honor Winners?…
Mark at Liberty Just In Case contrasts the mainstream press’ treatment of past Medal of Honor recepients with that of SFC Paul R. Smith, who earned the award posthumously for bravery in Iraq.
Now, name the winner of the Medal of Honor on April 4,…
March 24, 2006 at 5:48 pm
I don’t know about the other MSM, but give NPR credit for carrying the story. I remember hearing it on Morning Edition last year, and the story is still on their website:
March 24, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Great post! The Army has a site dedicated to SFC Smith at http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/smith/
March 24, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Don’t know how you guys did your searches, but I found the following links:
ABC News
MSNBC
CNN
Saw several others too, and I didn’t even look through all the listings.
March 24, 2006 at 7:02 pm
As of 28 February 2006, the United States Army had awarded the following valor decorations for Operation Iraqi Freedom:
Medal of Honor: 1
Distinguished Service Cross: 2
Silver Star Medal: 195
Soldier’s Medal: 73 (for non-combat valor)
Bronze Star Medal with “V” device: 1,039
Air Medal with “V” device: 391
Army Commendation Medal with “V” device: 2,784
For Operation Enduring Freedom, the Army has awarded:
Distinguished Service Cross: 1
Silver Star Medal: 45
Soldier’s Medal: 16 (for non-combat valor)
Bronze Star Medal with “V” device: 528
Air Medal with “V” device: 306
Army Commendation Medal with “V” device: 373
For OIF, as of March 6, 2006, the Marine Corps has awarded:
Navy Cross: 8
Silver Star Medal: 51
Bronze Star Medal with “V” device: 638
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” device: 2,986
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with “V” device: 5,125
Marine Corps numbers for OEF are incomplete, but one Navy Cross and at least one Silver Star have been awarded.
I don’t have U.S. Navy statisics, but I know of at least two Navy Crosses for OEF. The Air Force has awarded two Air Force Crosses for OEF.
The Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross are second to the Medal of Honor in the armed services’ awards system. You can read the citations for each OEF/OIF recipient here: http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_wot/index.html
March 24, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Quick Hits…
The Real Ugly American interviews Fred Barnes
Aaron Coal at “The Life and Times Blog” discusses why he believes in God. Very interesting read.
AJ Strata thinks he has elegant proposal to fix the relationship between FISA and the NSA. We…
March 24, 2006 at 10:15 pm
I appreciate the story and the comments, however I would like to offer an alternative take. If somehow I was a MOH winner I would not want it to be reported by the media. In a way that’s what I like about MOH winners, you don’t know who they are. I think that makes them more of a hero than if they were paraded on Fox, CNN, etc. I have the highest regard for MOH winners and a large part of that is what I perceive as their humility and dignity in the face of such a tremendous national honor.
March 24, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Name a Medal of Honor Winner?……
Indeed.
(via Instapundit)…
March 24, 2006 at 11:57 pm
I was stationed in Tampa at the time that the City had a memorial for SFC Paul Smith. Outside of the St Pete and Tampa newspapers, it barely made a ripple in the press.
Just yesterday I read the story of Maj. Alfred Rascon, another MOH awardee of the Vietnam era who had silently given up a well paying job and gone back on active duty in both IRaq and Afghanistan before being froced to retire at age 60.
I guess the news of valiant Hollywood actors braving LA traffic, or some other equally heroic acts kept this story from being front page and bold type on that day as well.
We get the media we deserve.
March 25, 2006 at 1:22 am
Don’t know about any medal yet, check out “Iron Mike”. http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/burghardt.asp
March 27, 2006 at 11:04 am
I see on this page reference to Medal of Honor “winner”. A person doesn’t “win” the Medal of Honor. You become a Medal of Honor “recipient”. There isn’t a contest to win the Medal of Honor!
For more information, see the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at http://www.cmohs.org or the U.S. Army Center of Military History at http://www.army.mil/cmh/Moh1.htm.
BTW, on 23 March 2006, Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss, 87, died. Desmond T. Doss was the only person to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for non-combat achievements in World War II and the first conscientious objector to receive the medal. He was 87. Doss, a longtime resident of Walker County, was born Feb. 7, 1919, in Lynchburg, Va. Doss was serving as a medic in the Army’s 77th Infantry Division on May 5, 1945, when he helped 75 wounded soldiers escape capture on the island of Okinawa under Japanese attack. As a Seventh-day Adventist, Doss’ religious convictions required strict adherence to God’s law, particularly the Sixth Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” But despite his objection to killing and war, Doss was a patriotic American who wanted to serve his country. The Army had estimated the number of men Doss saved on that day in May at 100, though the humble Doss stated that it couldn’t have been more than 50. The Army decided to split the difference and put 75 on his citation. In 2004, a documentary of Doss’ life, “The Conscientious Objector,” was released. The film has won well over a dozen film festival awards across the U.S.
March 27, 2006 at 12:03 pm
You are correct sir, They are Recipients.
March 28, 2006 at 12:16 pm
I am no big fan of the media, but I think there may have been more coverage if Sgt. Smith had survived. I know most MOH are awarded posthumously, but TV media lives on its visuals.
March 28, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Frankly Stockdale’s story is a lot more impressive. Part of the problem is that less heroics are required now because our weapons and tactics are so advanced. Heroics are usually the result of some earlier foul up.
I wonder if better tactics is perhaps leading to medal inflation?
April 2, 2006 at 9:57 am
SW’s Top 10…
Welcome to the fifth (almost) weekly installment of ShrinkWrapped’s Top 10. Out of hundreds of posts, these caught my attention and deserve your perusal. 1) Esther thinks some people just don’t get a good joke. She discusses this at Islam…
April 7, 2006 at 10:21 am
[...] Liberty Just In Case - A Dialogue for the September 12th World Welcome Instapundit readers Stay a while, have a look around . Quick, name a Medal of Honor winner 25 Responses to Medals [...]
April 15, 2006 at 11:54 am
Awesome! Your blog ROCKS! Man… If I was you I would be proud, so you should! Laterz dude….