We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:29:49 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Heh. This one won't die in email, so let's run it by again... My boon-companion Mike is not a supporter of the idea of retroactive Combat Action Badges... John - will you support my effort to be awarded FA 57? It may help me professionally, and, well........ it's not my fault it wasn't quite in place while I was in the Army. And, oh, I'd also like my retirement pay adjusted to reflect the base pay of the most recent retiring majors; and adjusted every, what, three years to make sure I remain astride of what's due me. GMAFB!! ML... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:49:23 -0600 MSG Keith: That is total BS. The CAB criteria has to be fixed. When I received mine, I believe it had just been autorized. The form had 3 different blocks for 3 engagements. Each one had to be filled out with a different time you had been in contact and returned fire. Luckily I had a few to choose from, but alot of my soldiers only had one and thus were unable to receive the CAB. Have they changed that and you only need one? They should if they haven't! I have always felt that if you earned the award then you should get it no matter when or what war. Unless you received a different award for the same action. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73843 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73843 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:00:40 -0600 Since you brought up the CAB, I have a story. One of my guys volunteered for Iraq in 2006. On one of his trips outside the wire, he had the privilege of escorting an Army Times reporter to on of the FOBs. About 0330 one morning, the FOB started taking incoming fire. SSG W got his gear and headed toward the direction of the incoming. When he got to the guard tower, he assited a .50 cal gunner. When the .50 cal jammed, SSG W. took his M16 and went to a firing position and returned fire in the direction of where the insurgent fire was. An M240 crew showed up and took over his firing position. He went back to the tower, and humped ammo for the now firing .50 cal. An M1 tank was brought up and fired at the insurent location. Incoming fire stopped. Recon found two dead insurgents. A SITREP went up to the OPS center. The Army Times reporter followed SSG W. around. When SSG W. returned back to his HQ, his commander told him to submit the paperwork for a CAB. SSG W. wrote up a narrative, as did his commander, who happened to be in the ops center when the firefight occurred. He got a statement from the Army Times reporter, the intell report and submitted it. The active duty pukes returned it and said he needed two witness statements. When SSG W. located the guy in the tower, he said since SSG W. wasn't in his unit, he wasn't going to give a witness statement. So SSG. W came home without a CAB. When I found out about it, I got copies of everything and submitted it through our chain of command. They also said it needed two witness statements. No where in the reg does it say two witness statements. I asked a contact at the awards branch and she said that as long as there was documentation, two statements weren't required. Our command still wouldn't submitt the paperwork. The CSM even quit responding to my emails. I'm no longer the first sgt there, and no one else is willing to push back. So a Soldier who deserves the CAB, will go without. Sorry. just had to rant... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73799 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73799 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:15:22 -0600 really old, if you're remembering the reinstatement of the Purple Heart...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73784 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73784 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:09:27 -0600 If I remember correctly, the Purple Heart, when reinstated in 1932, was retroactive. Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73782 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73782 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:00:07 -0600 John, in one very GRUMPY OLD VET'S view, I agree, he should receive the award. If the individual met all of the criteria, he should receive the award, even retroactively. Let's just take a look at your Father. Some, not you, might say, "Hey Grumpy, that was 30+ years ago!" There are a group of reasons that would make this move advantageous for every one. A short but important thought to this whole concept. There are some in the Military, who have not, can not and will not understand the importance of such issues. They really don't understand the Military. But equally so, there are people who have not, are not and will be in the Military, but they really understand. The issue is not Military experience, but understanding. John, men like your Father remind me of a neighbor of mine. He was a POW/Viet Nam. Words just don't do him justice. I was one of a few vets, he would allow to get close to him. Yes, they tortured him and he is screwed up for life. I listened to him talk, no questions, just listened - listened. Then one day, he came over, I made a mug of coffee. We sat down and talked, he opened up and talked about the past. I started to ask questions, "Have you told anyone else?" "Do you have any type of documentation?" His answer was "no". We sent all of the paperwork for and received his Military Records. They were not accurate. We were able to find the accurate documentation. He was later able to apply and receive the benefits he has EARNED! This is the reasons retroactive awards should be awarded. They deal with all of the bad things that come with combat, then why shouldn't they get some of the good things from their service, too. Grumpy http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73780 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73780 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:57:14 -0600 Feel free to lay it out in the comments. But be gentle, I have such a delicate ego... with feelings that bruise at the merest hint of disapprobation. No, really. It's true. If I wasn't certain it'd cost me my life(suicide by Big Boot) I'd stick my tongue out and waggle my hands from my ears over this bit, you big softie. No dog in this fight, but, I figure Service people ought to get paid to reflect what their responsibilities would be in the private sector(maybe -10% or something?). If a union dock manager can make 50k(+benefits) without benefit of college degree why can't anyone else who has similar or greater responsibilities? ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73779 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73779 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:52:22 -0600 Maybe you should move to Canada and apply to the Human Rights commission for any defamation or unintended or otherwise offenses of your senses? Hey...you might not even have to move to Canada since, apparently, you can just shop around until you find a provincial commission willing to hear your case? Why should only draft dodgers get the benefit of our Northern neighbor's laws? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73771 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_issue_of_re.html#comment-73771 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:26:24 -0600