Military awards are never won, they are earned because there is no pre-organized competition with a medal as its goal; neither are they given, but awarded by a thankful nation...Games and contests are won by teams and single players competing for prizes, titles or money...The United States, as well as other governments, as a nation awards citations to individuals and units in recognition for service which cannot otherwise be compensated...
Even as great an accomplishment as Charles Lindbergh's solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean was, he won the Orteig Prize because he competed for it...His Medal of Honor and many other citations were awarded in recognition of his contributions to aviation progress...
Military, and in many cases civilian awards are citations marking recognition of feats with bravery and disregard for personal danger taken up at times of extreme stress and peril when the outcome can decide the fate of many, or even of an individual...
Even those with malice, treachery and greed in their hearts can distinguish themselves on a field of honor, although they might be looked upon later only for their misdeeds and atrocities...As examples, a look at the military resume of the War of Independence turncoat and traitor, General Benedict Arnold, bears a tribute to his achievements and sacrifice, although history remembers him best for his spiteful decision to change sides over perceived personal grievances...
The most universally despised participant in world history, loathed for his cruelty and disregard for human suffering was recognized and honored for his dedication to duty in a different war...His bravery in battle was noted by his superiors, including those he would one day disclaim as "racially inferior," as he was twice awarded his nation's highest military honor, the Iron Cross...
Gefreiter Hitler, without regard to his later monstrous crimes against humanity, did serve on the battlefields and in the trenches alongside his fellow soldiers with distinction...However his painful and debilitating wounds received during his service only resulted in his casting blame on others instead of working towards the building of a more lasting peace, the latter being the desired goal at the end of all wars...
Our third example of stumblers from grace, Duke Cunningham, is particularly deplorable for me, since he used my beloved F-4 Phantom as his springboard to what could have been another level of selfless devotion to duty, yet became his legacy of shame...The events that took him to the top of the aviation world, and led to his earning of the Navy Cross can be seen in three parts here, here and here...
None of the three awardees discussed above will ever be remembered with anything but disgust and repugnance for their deeds in later life, yet at one time each was revered for distinction displayed in battle...None of them can be considered "winners," but all three used their prior service to gain advantage in later contests to win dominance...Their later disgraceful acts should in no way reflect on what may have been the few moments in life when they acted in a selfless manner for the sake of their nations...
I have no problem with referring to a nation which "wins" a battle, campaign or war, for this is a collective push toward a known goal of either freedom from or dominion over another...But do not insult, with any tense of the word "win," the honor and integrity attached to the courage, selflessness and devotion to duty exhibited by the individual effort expended from those cited for awards by a grateful nation...
More articles concerning Warriors and Militaria...
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments and critiques are always welcome, and will be reviewed before publication...They will not be seen immediately...Keep it clean please...