Winning the Medal of Honor

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Is anyone else bothered by this phrase?

It's not as if there's a competition. This isn't the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes. Recipients of this medal didn't deliberately seek it.

The Medal of Honor is not won, it is received or accepted.

[proteus_lives]

1. I've heard soldiers say the same thing.

I was just reading about John Basilone and the book mentioned that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Basilone

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. Basilone was one of the men portrayed in The Pacific

miniseries. He must have been an amazing man.

What book were you reading?

[proteus_lives]

5. He was.

And he was deeply conflicted about the celebrity being bestowed with the MOH had given him.

It was the book "The Pacific" I haven't seen the series yet, don't have HBO.

[Historic NY]

7. ah Manila John..he started his bond drive in my town.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. His wife was remarkable woman too...

http://womenmarines.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/sgt-lena-mae-riggi-basilone/

[Angry Dragon]

2. I have heard it refered to as

Awarded the Medal of Honor

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Awarded is ok...I like bestowed better.

Seems more dignified.

[Nailzberg]

6. Awarded, Bestowed, Recieved, Accepted. All fine with me. Winning, I agree, bothers me.

These are average military folks, thrown into extraordinary circumstances, and performing exceptionally to save others. We recognize that. No one is trying to win a medal. They're not merit badges. Just reading the citations on the Medal of Honor website can bring me to tears, realizing the risks recipients disregard trying to save lives of their comrades.

In my short time as a reservist, I was never activated. Combat changes how you think, and I'll never know, thankfully, how I would react if a grenade was thrown into a room with my squad. I'd probably hide.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. "Just reading the citations..."

Me too.

It really got to me yesterday when I heard some news bimbo interviewing a recipient, talking about how he'd "won" the medal in a ridiculous giddy voice, as if he'd been on a game show. I had to turn off the TV, because I suddenly had the feeling she was going to ask him what he'd done to "win".

[Froward69]

10. AWARDED the Metal of Honor

is proper. the republicans think valor is a competition. :eyes:

[Jumping John]

11. Read about the Conscientious Objector Desmond Doss and his being awarded the Medal of Honor.

He never carried a weapon, but was awarded the medal for his remarkable service as a medic on a battle for Hacksaw Ridge. Truly a remarkable man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Doss

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. Amazing...And he lived to age 87

Thanks for posting the link!