The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 50, December 10, 2006, Article 20

HAVE WE NO HEROES? MEDAL OF HONOR AWARD CRITERIA QUESTIONED

"A former Marine ... told a congressional panel Wednesday
that too few who risk or lose their lives in this country's battles
get the Medal of Honor these days, and it takes way too long.

"Joseph A. Kinney testified before the Military Personnel Subcommittee
of the House Armed Services Committee on the Medal of Honor."

"I know the Department of Defense (DOD) is currently conducting a
comprehensive review of military awards," said Rep. John McHugh of
New York, chairman of the subcommittee. "I have been told that it
often takes over two years for a valor award to be approved."

All recent awards of the medal have been posthumous, he said, noting
that during World War II, 43 percent of the persons awarded the Medal
of Honor survived their actions.

"Kinney told the subcommittee he wanted to make three points to
start with.

"One, medals are integral to success on the battlefield, resolve in
war and purpose as a nation," he said. "Two, recipients are not being
recognized in a timely fashion or are being overlooked. And three,
marginal modifications in the awards process are required and this
process should be supervised by periodic congressional oversight."

"That medal is now given rarely, and he asked whether anybody on
the committee really believed it was because the selfless,
self-sacrificing valor for which it has always stood is now rare
as well.

"Have we no heroes?" Kinney asked."

To read the complete article, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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