Comments for Sergeant Peralta and the Medal of Honor.

Sergeant Peralta and the Medal of Honor.

2008-09-19T16:04:17Z

I spent yesterday traveling to Las Vegas for the Blogworld Expo, I'm glad to see someone (I'm guessing AFSis) put up a post regarding the award of the Navy Cross to Sergeant Peralta.

Based on what she put up, I see several possibilities, which include her conjectures, and some which go down different paths. None of my conjectures that differ (or expand) upon what she said are useful discussing in a public venue like a blog post based solely on conjecture from the thin gruel of what has currently been released. To do so would simply be falling into an ego-trap of wanting to be able to say "See! I told ya!" if I happened to be correct. There's plenty to be read between the lines in the released information that simply can't be expanded upon without going into non-useful what-if's. I think AFSis covered the basics pretty well, and I'm glad to see that a Medal of Honor holder was among the group doing the review - that actually gives me great comfort of sorts. And leads to what I have to add to the discussion.

It involves the living Medal of Honor holder. He represents a rapidly-diminishing resource. We've been at war now, active campaigning, since 2001. And we have not one living recipient of the Medal. It has seemingly become almost the Medal of Posthumous Honor, a reverse of the original criteria for the British Victoria Cross, which was (in its early days) awarded only to living soldiers.

I'm all for, as AW1 Tim averred and John-not-the-Armorer said in the comments to AFSis' post -

However, the award criteria are rightly set high and demanding of total confirmation, preserving this as one of the few awards that have not been cheapened by ever more lenient standards (down to laughable generosity at some levels).

I'm all for keeping the standards high for all awards for valor, too. And the Bronze Star may be passed about too much as a service award (especially with some branch-of-service and component discrepancies from my personal observation and discussion) but I don't think the valor awards are given out like candy.

But I read the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross citations from this war and I read WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Medal of Honor citations, and I suspect if I could sterilize the war out of the recommendations and put them all in a pile - you'd have trouble picking the Crosses of this war from the Medals of those wars.

While this war has been different in many respects, and changes in doctrine, weapons and battlefield enablers have made it a safer overall war for our warriors to fight - at the sharp end, there have been many sharp fights, with sharp soldiers fighting smart - yet with plenty of chances for heroic acts worthy of consideration.

Sergeant Peralta's case taken in isolation may or may not be the case to hang this discussion on in its details - but my question isn't about Sergeant Peralta per se - it's about the possibility of exactly the opposite of what AW1 Tim and John-not-the-Armorer are concerned about - putting the bar so high that only the dead need apply.

That said, one thing remains.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.

of Sergeant Rafael Peralta, USMC.

Update: Jules Crittenden's thoughts here.

Comment from Cassandra on 2008-09-21

2008-09-22T02:28:16Z

West says Pres. Bush called Mrs. Peralta once, and she said call back later. Then, Bush called her again, no contact. He had to call a third time to get her and tell her Peralta was being considered for Medal of Honor. Maybe he got a bad vibe.

This is a call that was made at DoD, not by the Oval Office. The worst thing about it is that people are going to end up passing around a whole lot of speculation that only fans the flames. It's painful enough without making it worse.

Stick to the facts. And I'm sorry if I seem a bit curt about it, but that's how rumors get started and in this particular case there is no foundation.

Comment from jordan on 2008-09-20

2008-09-21T01:55:27Z

It may have nothing to do with anything -- just a curious passage in the book. (p.58) I didn't know the president calls to say you're being considered for MOH. Bing didn't indicate a source.

Comment from Grumpy on 2008-09-20

2008-09-20T17:02:00Z

FIRST, MY RESPECTS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF SGT. PERALT.

Now, as to the issue of the Medal of Honor, There is a similar discussion of this very same issue at "Neptunas Lex's" Website. It appears that SECDEF appointed a committee including a neurosurgeon or neurologist. Now the only reason to have this individual on the team was to determine SGT Peralt's cognitive state. There is a standard set of tests to determine his state. It is measured with the "Glasgow Coma Scale". This is a series of actions including questions like, What year is this? It could also be a pin prick to see if the patient responds. The questions become, "Was this particular doctor there to administer a post-event examination on SGT Peralt? Then after the examination, did the doctor write a report with all 'reasons and basis' for all opinions stated in the report?" If you answer no to either question, then his mere presence in this committee is inappropriate. He can ONLY speak from his report on the post-event examination of SGT Peralt.

Last, but not least, we have the issue of fundamental fairness. We have two individuals committing the same act of heroism, they should both get the same award or treated equally.

I will agree, he was seriously wounded, but it my view, he saw the grenade and pulled it to himself. I believe, he did this knowing full well the consequences of his choice, his death.

Comment from john on 2008-09-20

2008-09-20T07:23:19Z

{Text deleted as being irrelevant and a Rulez violation. Try again, John. The rules are simple - if all you have to say is the equivalent of "You're a poopy-head!" please don't waste your time and my bandwidth. -the Armorer}

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-09-19

2008-09-20T01:08:01Z

Heh. Jordan, if the President is meddling with Medal of Honor cites (which I don't believe) as a result of problems with family members, well, "Houston, we have a problem!"

Unless I misunderstand your intent.

Comment from jordan on 2008-09-19

2008-09-19T19:33:27Z

This may be neither here nor there, but Bing West refers to Peralta's actions in "Strongest Tribe". It's the same page where he talks about Bellavia and Kasals going through the houses. West says Pres. Bush called Mrs. Peralta once, and she said call back later. Then, Bush called her again, no contact. He had to call a third time to get her and tell her Peralta was being considered for Medal of Honor. Maybe he got a bad vibe.

Comment from XBradTC on 2008-09-19

2008-09-19T18:40:13Z

I'll not second guess the actions of the folks who reviewed the award process for this medal. I am frustrated by the seeming determination that no Medals of Honor will be awarded to living persons. You can't tell me that not one Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine hasn't so far exceeded the call of duty to warrant such an award.

Let me speak as well to the award of the Bronze Star. When the 1st Armored Division returned to Germany following Operation Desert Storm, every Soldier in the division recieved an award. Sergeants (E-5) and below received an Army Commendation Medal for service. Staff Sergeants (E-6) and above received a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service. Way to cheapen things.

Comment from Katherine Optima Maximae on 2008-09-19

2008-09-19T17:32:16Z

Oops. Pardon. That was me. I did not realize I was not logged on as me when I did it.

I was torn about any conjecture on what they did or did not find, etc. Just that, dammit, all the hem-hawing always leads to somebody thinking there is a cover up, people's careers and lives going hay wire and a bad mark on the military.

Though, as I noted, I imagine it cannot be avoided sometimes.