Wikipedia page, links to all services.


Ribbon precedence checker

Navy Ribbons


if you are cool, you got a DSM:

http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/dmsm.shtml

2. Criteria: The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to those members of the United States Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service or achievement while assigned to a joint activity. The DMSM is usually awarded to those serving in leadership positions and performing exceptionally outstanding work.



3. Background: a. This is the third highest peacetime Defense award.

 

3. Background: a. This is the third highest peacetime Defense award.[/I][/QUOTE]

Yeah, real cool to have a peace time award. Just bustin your *****. I have a ARCOM, JSAM, 3 NAMs, CAR, and my coolest medal is the German Shooting medal. Got it while in Afghanistan. The germans lived next door to us. They offered to shoot their qual, if they could shoot our qual. kinda cool.

Marshall

 

I appreciate the link because I wanted information on the Purple Heart . I had read a couple of newspaper accounts describing the Purple Heart as " one of the highest medals awarded by the military " . With all due respect to military personnel , the Purple Heart simply signifies the recipient was wounded by an enemy agent and treated by medical personnel and the wound documented . This could be no more than a scratch treated with a bandaid . The award has nothing to do with the actions of the recipient . For some the award gives in adequate recognition . For others , saying they have been awarded a high honor is a bit much .

 

If you had been in the Military, you would understand why the Purple Heart truly is one of the highest medals awarded to a combat veteran. Your assumption that you can get one for a scratch and a bandaid is insulting at best but I realize that is not your intent.

It is true there are a few out there that may not look like much more than a scratch, but if you consider that a few mere centimeters one way or the other might have meant death instead.....Well it changes the situation.

When you actually hear those bullets buzzing over your head like mad bumble bees, you grow a whole new respect for the Purple Heart and those who have earned them the hard way.

Or when a mortar explodes 15 feet from you and you are covered with your best friends brains only to come out with nothing but one of your "scratches" as you call them.....again that little scratch has a whole new meaning.

I can go on and on here from PERSONAL experience having been awarded 4 of these little "Scratch" awards of yours, but I am afraid only the Veterans will really know what I am talking about and I will end up preaching to the choir.

If I appear to have taken your thoughts a little too much to heart, that is because I remember the faces of young boys that were awarded Purple Hearts, that no longer have faces.

 

you're killing me !!
i was stationed on an AFB base, whaddya want me to get, a free round of golf?

Good post, larry, well put. it's all a matter of perspective.
freedom isn't free, and when you have paid the price personally,
it feels different.


here's a good story for ya:
My dad never did anything in the military. so the year i retired, he came down for a few days. we had a change of command or something on base,
and he just went with me to see the Pomp & Splendor of it all.

pretty cool, in base chapel.
my dad kept staring at my ribbons, and looking at everyone elses, then stare at mine,
finally he goes, what's that one you got, that NOBODY else has got

he was pretty impressed that i had more ribbons and one of the highest ranking ribbons in a room of ~200 people.

he still talks about that.

 

04CTD,

a free round of golf would be cool

Top,

I agree it is different when are a vet or current member of the armed forces. Thats one ribbon im glad i dont have. I have been shot at plenty, just glad i didnt get hit.

And for all the others, it takes more than a scratch. Otherwise everyone would have a purple heart, and then there would no honor or integrity in it.

 

Getting a PH means you were to stupid to duck

I had to look my stuff up here to see what I had,god was I this young and stupid? Yep,would I do it againe? Yep,they can stuff the awards though,belive I told them that one time,being let's say "tipsy" did not help.

I don't thing awards are all that great or getting them,your there to do a job nothing more nothing less.

I edited some of it as it was personal info that does not belong on the web.


Pav

 

FYI my attitude about scratches comes from military experience in Viet Nam where 2 Purple Hearts would get you out of a combat area and 3 would get you out of country . I knew of more than a couple of Purple Hearts that were for wounds actually self-inflicted with a C-ration can opener during any type of enemy fire . I've seen a scratch received from jumping in brush to avoid a booby trap result in a Purple Heart being awarded . Saying a Purple Hart can be awarded for a scratch is not an assumption . Read the requirements . A lesion is not required . While some bravery is associated with most Purple Heart awards the award is simply for the fact you were wounded . A coward wounded while hunkered down in a foxhole would receive a Purple Heart . Or some idiot throwing a grenade in a pile of rice . http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=39889

 

Rick, when you tell a story like this there are some people that do not understand that it is all hogwash because they do not know that Purple Hearts are not handed out to people that scratch themselves on purpose.

They only hear these stories repeated by people that don't have a clue that each award goes through a review board process and must be signed off by a multitude of of senior officers starting with the units sergeant and ending up with the Holy brass.

I know that Hollywood often portrays such things to be accurate, but in the real world it just doesn't happen that way. Your attempt at obvious humor only cheapens the true meaning of a Purple Heart and serves to offend myself and other Combat Veterans.

Quoting politically motivated articles intent on bashing someone running for office is NO proof of any wrong doings by anyone. Kerry may or may not have caused his own wound that day, but tossing a grenade into a cache of rice while stupidly standing too close, is not the same as carving on ones own body with a can opener. It is an act of stupidity NOT an intentional act to earn an award.

 

I don't have a stack yet, just a few... (6, 2 of them have stars on them), but I'm still a young buck. Hope I never have to get a Purple Heart, but I'd be proud to if I had to. My grandfather had a few PH's, and a bronze star. I never knew this until a few months ago, he died when I was young.

My hat's off to all those that have gone before me. Even you, 04. (even though you were in the navy...)

 

Unless your name is John Carey..lol.. But that is a whole different subject.

 

I agree with you top, but I see this thread going nowhere fast. Its the few non supporters of the military that mess a good thing up for everyone. 04CTD gave a link for Us THE SERVICE MEMBERS to look up ribbons and what not. If someone feels they need to make a mockery of the military they should do it elsewhere. DTR has a sister forum for political discussions. I dont normally get involved, but this is one that really chaps my backside. Thats just my .02 worth from a Active Duty US Navy Seabee with 10 years invested.

Marshall

 

Well said TOP tn hillbilly and 04 . As I read the first post, there was not anything I read that was asking for opinions. It was an informational link only.

Thanks to all that served. ( and are serving )

 

Hope you don't mean me.

I was simply trying to lighten the mood a tad with the J. Carey comment.

 

You are right Marshall, this thread no longer serves the intent of the original poster. It is done here.