Tom,

I have always had a problem when someone that claims to have received this award and that award from the military. After the Second World War several medals were converted and were awarded for different reasons.

My father received the Bronze Star for heroism. Now, Bronze Star is awarded for two reasons. The most common is for Meritorious Service. Several units in Vietnam awarded this as a thank-you for your service kind of thing. I know a few guys that were in the 119th that got them. It was almost the same as the Army Commendation Medal. The Air Medal is also awarded for Meritorious Service for participating in aerial flight. To qualify to takes either 50 hours of non-combat time (resupply, hash and trash, test flight or whatever) or 25 hours of combat assault time ( CA's, LRRP insertations or extractations, something while under fire). Gun ship crews logged nothing but combat hours. The 4th Infantry was very good at keeping track of the amount of assaults their troops made so they would qualify for an Air Medal. The Air Medal with "V" device was awarded for heroism for certain acts of bravery in aeriel flight. Most of the time, the medal was down graded by someone higher up the food chain from a DFC. The Bronze Star with "V" device is awarded for certain acts of bravery for ground action. This is a down graded awarded from the Silver Star. The ARCOM is awarded for Meritorious Service but it is also awarded with a "V" device for Valor as an award to a group. The enlisted crews that extracted Task Force Alpha were all awarded this medal. Less paper work I guess.

The Purple Heart is awarded for wounds received in a combat zone due to hostile action. One of our cooks received it for a cut on his finger during a mortar attack. He received medical treatment, the proper forms were filled out and he received the award. Like anything else, if you know how the system works you can cash-in on the benefits.

I guess if someone needed something to build themselves up in the eyes of the public, a few "Bennie Badges" and a line of sh*t might get you ahead. I saw several things that I thought should have been given some type of award but were not. I think most of us thought that we were just doing our jobs and that was reward enough. When someone gets on a "Soap Box" and starts beating their own drum I always have doubts about them. Hell!!! You can go on ebay or order a catalog and get almost anything you want.