Should SEAL forces receive the Medal of Honor?

[Paradoxical]

For taking out the most notorious terrorist in modern times.

[kenny blankenship]

1. they will be anonymous

for a long time probably

[aquart]

2. No. Since when is the Medal of Honor on a celebrity meter?

That's an appalling suggestion for a ridiculous reason.

[Obamanaut]

8. I *really* like this response. It deserves a 'rec'. nt

[Paradoxical]

11. You don't believe that eliminating a man we've been hunting for more than a decade...

Who has successfully thwarted international efforts at capturing him. And who was clearly a very dangerous individual who opened fire on members of the raid...

Qualifies the men and women for the Medal of Honor?

Seems to me like it's a good reason.

[palm_to_forehead]

12. What Medal of Honor recipients would you compare them to?

Killing the right guy doesn't earn one the MoH.

[Paradoxical]

13. And Osama Bin Laden isn't just any person.

[palm_to_forehead]

14. No shit?

Honestly, which Medal of Honor recipients would you compare them to?

Go look at what people have done to earn it. A succesful mission is nowhere near the standard of bravery and excellence it requires.

[Paradoxical]

Several people earned Medals of Honor for exploring the North Pole.

[palm_to_forehead]

19. Byrd and Bennett wouldn't be eligible for the MoH now.

Things changed after WWII.

If you think their MoH is a legitimate argument you are either completely ignorant of the MoH or intentionally attempting to take things out of context.

[dems_rightnow]

20. That was pre WW2...

.... when they cheapened the medal by handing it out willy-nilly. No longer would this occur.

[sarge43]

21. Lindbergh was given the MoH for the Atlantic flight.

The criteria is much different today.

[cleanhippie]

44. Is it safe to say you have not served in the military?

[Paradoxical]

46. Yes that is safe to say. I'm still in college.

[cleanhippie]

49. Ok, thanks, that explains a lot.

And I do not mean that in a way as a derogatory statement. I think it simply explains why you feel the way you do about the CMH.

[Shrek]

15. Doesn't fit the criteria

The Medal of Honor calls for "gallantry and intrepidity ... above and beyond the call of duty." No question about the gallantry, but I don't see that they went beyond the call of duty. From what I've read they ran the mission exactly as ordered by the commander-in-chief. I'm sure the team members think they were just doing their jobs.

[aquart]

26. NO. This is what they trained for.

The Medal of Honor is for doing MORE.

Shall we have scorecards for medals? The most high value the target, the bigger the medal?

Your reasons are appalling and CHEAP.

[sarge43]

35. As far as we know they did their duty; they completed a difficult

and dangerous mission successfully. That's what they suppose to do.

The MoH is awarded for going far beyond that -- above and beyond the call of duty. Further, the MoH is not an unit award.

[cleanhippie]

43. No, it does not.

But they may qualify for the Navy Cross, Silver Star or Bronze Star, on of which they WILL likely get.

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


The CMH is reserved for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."

[Renew Deal]

56. That's not the criteria for the Medal of Honor

The guys deserve recognition, but that's not it.

[whistler162]

42. Since its beginning in the Civil War

upto the beginning of the 20th century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor#27th_Maine_and_other_revoked_awardings

[RandySF]

3. No

That's for Valor Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. Whatever citation they receive, we won't know about it.

[dems_rightnow]

4. No, And anyone

who thinks so doesn't understand the Medal of Honor.

[cliffordu]

5. The people in the room when OBL took one for the team will never talk about it

publicly, nor will they be awarded any medals in public.

They are probably trianing for their next mission starting tomorrow.

[Drale]

9. I bet sometime in the future at least one of them

will write a book about their experience. That is if they are allowed to. There have been plenty of missions like this over the years that the people involved talk about and write books about years later.

[Poll_Blind]

6. No, this is light-years away from being Medal of Honor worthy. Read the stories of MoH...

...recipients and you'll understand why.

PB

[KeepItReal]

25. +1 Obama awarded two Medal of Honors TODAY

One soldier held enemies at bay by himself so his fellows soldier could retreat from an overwhelming enemy force in Korea. He fought until he had no ammo left and then used a shovel to fight until overwhelmed and killed by the enemy.

His fellow troops were so inspired by his actions, they rallied and counterattacked and routed the enemy.

The second recipient jumped on a grenade to save the lives of his fellow troops.

[Poll_Blind]

27. Now those sound like MoH accounts.

PB

[sarge43]

39. Yeah

It's why generals have been known to stop the staff car, got out and salute a private who was wearing that blue ribbon with the five stars. There aren't that many recipients walking around to salute and when one is met -- honors due, honors given.

[neverforget]

7. No. Maybe the Navy Cross, Silver Star or Bronze Star; Presidential Unit Citation

for Seal Team Six. Just my thoughts

[sarge43]

22. At least the Silver Star, perhaps the Navy Cross, of course the Unit Citation. n/t

[KittyWampus]

31. This ended up being an interesting thread. I learned a lot.

[TornadoTN]

10. They will get their awards in private - their unit is (mostly) anonymous

It will never see the light of day, at least as far as the general public is concerned, but they will be justly rewarded.

[lonestarnot]

16. Just promotions and more money out of the budget for economic stimulus..

[GKirk]

37. That was a rather nasty

response.

[martymar64]

50. But unfortunately accurate

Such is the state of our bloated military budget and profiteering "defense"industry.

Re: the original issue, they should get a nice Silver or Bronze Star but the CMH? No. That is reserved for much more extraordinary actions. No battle was changed by killing OBL. However it is a good political and propaganda victory against AQ.

In fact, now that OBL is gone, let's start bringing our men and women home from Iraq and Afghanistan once and for all.

[lonestarnot]

52. And they won't get to split the reward money either.

[dionysus]

58. .

:cry:

[socialist_n_TN]

17. Do we know enough to answer yes or no?

There is probably a unit citation that is DEFINITELY deserved, but the MOH is a different deal. It's based on personal valor. Isn't it? If someone in the unit deserved a MOH for actions DURING the raid, then sure, but the entire unit? Probably not.

[grahamhgreen]

18. I'm sure they'll get something to distinguish them, but here are the rules for MoH

Under current law:

The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the Army , distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty--

(1) while engaged in military operations against an enemy of the United States;

(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or,

(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

[DevonRex]

23. They would say no. And they'll be anonymous for years to come.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Stinky The Clown]

28. I don't think they deserve the MoH for the reasons cited. That said, *you* don't deserve the . . . .

. . . . derision to which you were subjected for asking the question.

[palm_to_forehead]

30. I'd agree with that if it weren't for the North Pole argument.

Making intentionaly misleading arguments subjects you to whatever comes.

[jmowreader]

29. Giving the SEALs the Medal of Honor for this would cheapen the Medal

From all appearances this was a routine firefight, no more or less dangerous than any other. Look up Fred Zabitosky or Vernon Baker--the shit people did to earn The Medal is usually so outrageous you couldn't make a movie out of it because no one would ever believe it.

They deserve the Navy Cross--which is one notch below The Medal.

[KittyWampus]

32. I learned a lot from this thread about the MoH and history.

[Modern_Matthew]

33. It's just a silly symbol, anyway...but if it makes them feel honored: YES! nt

[Abq_Sarah]

40. A silly symbol?

Seriously?

[cleanhippie]

45. Is it safe to say that you have never served in the military?

[Renew Deal]

55. It's safe to say that person is ignorant

in general.

[Renew Deal]

54. That post is clueless

[Ohio Joe]

34. No

While I think they did their jobs excellently, that alone does not qualify them.

[sendero]

36. Routine?

Dropping into an armed compound to pull off this feat?

I'm no expert on the history of the medal but I certainly consider this "above and beyond" so yes I would give them the highest honor.

In fact, of all the players involved they have the most of my respect.

[oneshooter]

41. That is what they are TRAINED to do. It is their job.

What they did is,to them, the same as you looking both ways to cross the street. It is the job. They did it very well and should get a Unit Citation, and perhaps a Bronze Star.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[Canuckistanian]

38. No. They're the wind.

You don't know where they're going. You don't know where they came from.

And they like it that way.

[Dappleganger]

47. They couldn't continue to do what they do if they came out and accepted awards.

But it was my understanding that they do at times, receive awards privately.

[karynnj]

48. Thanks for this thread

The responses really put the medals given in context.

[denbot]

51. Not the congressional, but a Navy Cross is definitely well deserved.

The congressional medal of honor is reserved for the bravery under the most harrowing combat conditions. This action is of the highest caliber, but fails to meet the mark.

Bravo Zulu to the seal team.

Go Navy!!!

[Renew Deal]

53. No, but they might get their own living 72 virgins

If they ever become known.

[SoCalDem]

57. They probably don't want them,

Secrecy is what keeps them safe..

[melm00se]

59. I just picked a couple random CMH citations

read them and decide if the bin Laden mission meets their measure:

*MURPHY, FREDERICK C.

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 259th Infantry, 65th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany, 18 March 1945.
Entered service at: Weymouth, Mass.
Birth: Boston, Mass. G.O. No.: 21, 26 February 1946.

Citation: An aid man, he was wounded in the right shoulder soon after his comrades had jumped off in a dawn attack 18 March 1945, against the Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany. He refused to withdraw for treatment and continued forward, administering first aid under heavy machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire. When the company ran into a thickly sown antipersonnel minefield and began to suffer more and more casualties, he continued to disregard his own wound and unhesitatingly braved the danger of exploding mines, moving about through heavy fire and helping the injured until he stepped on a mine which severed one of his feet. In spite of his grievous wounds, he struggled on with his work, refusing to be evacuated and crawling from man to man administering to them while in great pain and bleeding profusely. He was killed by the blast of another mine which he had dragged himself across in an effort to reach still another casualty. With indomitable courage, and unquenchable spirit of self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to duty which made it possible for him to continue performing his tasks while barely able to move, Pfc. Murphy saved many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life.


*YOUNG, RODGER W.

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division.
Place and date: On New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 31 July 1943.
Entered service at: Clyde, Ohio.
Birth: Tiffin, Ohio. G.O. No.: 3, 6 January 1944.

Citation: On 31 July 1943, the infantry company of which Pvt. Young was a member, was ordered to make a limited withdrawal from the battle line in order to adjust the battalion's position for the night. At this time, Pvt. Young's platoon was engaged with the enemy in a dense jungle where observation was very limited. The platoon suddenly was pinned down by intense fire from a Japanese machinegun concealed on higher ground only 75 yards away. The initial burst wounded Pvt. Young. As the platoon started to obey the order to withdraw, Pvt. Young called out that he could see the enemy emplacement, whereupon he started creeping toward it. Another burst from the machinegun wounded him the second time. Despite the wounds, he continued his heroic advance, attracting enemy fire and answering with rifle fire. When he was close enough to his objective, he began throwing handgrenades, and while doing so was hit again and killed. Pvt. Young's bold action in closing with this Japanese pillbox and thus diverting its fire, permitted his platoon to disengage itself, without loss, and was responsible for several enemy casualties.


there are many more here:
http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html

[tallahasseedem]

60. If they retire and decide to go public...

then I think they should receive any and every medal there is out there.