Petition To Revoke Bronze Star

[Shaffer]

AWARDED 22 JULY 03 TO
JESSICA LYNCH,
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS,
507th MAINTENANCE COMPANY,
U.S. ARMY

FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ

1. The awarding of the Bronze Star is an honor reserved for those military members who, in a non-aviation capacity, show valor in a combat situation or perform meritoriously when engaged by a hostile enemy, when such actions rose above those which are inherent and expected of every soldier in the performance of their duties in combat.

2. We have the utmost respect for all military members, active and veteran, who have been faced with the trauma and terror of combat, including PFC Jessica Lynch in her service in Iraq.

3. However, a review of the narratives of past Bronze Star recipients has shown a gross difference between their actions and the actions of PFC Lynch while she served in Iraq.

4. PFC Lynch, while in a military convoy in Iraq, survived an ambush by the Iraqi military, and was subsequently taken to an Iraqi hospital and treated for her wounds. She remained in the Iraqi hospital, and under the commendable care of the Iraqi medical staff, whom she praised for the treatment and care that they showed her, until she was returned to American forces.

5. PFC Lynch neither killed nor wounded any Iraqi military and, in fact, had a malfunctioning weapon which would have prevented any return fire. PFC Lynch suffered wounds from a vehicle accident during an ambush, was taken to a hospital, and treated for her wounds.

6. The narratives of past Bronze Star recipients reflect the purpose for which this medal was intended. Past recipients showed tremendous courage in the face of enemy fire, risked their lives to save their comrades, intentionally placed themselves in extreme danger without regard for their own lives, made personal decisions that eliminated or diverted enemy military, and took actions that were far above and beyond the actions expected or taken by their fellow soldiers. These are actions deserving of a Bronze Star.

7. It is not our intention to disrespect PFC Lynch in any way, but rather to avoid disrespecting the past Bronze Star recipients who truly rose far above the norm, with extreme courage and under extreme personal danger, who took extraordinary measures themselves to save their fellow soldiers. Our purpose is also to maintain the dignified respect of the Bronze Star and what it is truly intended to honor.

8. PFC Lynch survived an extremely traumatic experience, as all combat veterans have, but all combat veterans have not earned a Bronze Star simply for surviving their mission and performing their expected duties. The military has many awards with which to recognize a soldier's efforts, but only one Bronze Star Medal with which to honor those soldiers who take truly heroic, dangerous, selfless, and exemplary actions.

With all due respect to PFC Jessica Lynch, we affix our names to this petition to revoke the Bronze Star Medal awarded to PFC Lynch on 2 July 03.

[CPLRapoza]

You just dscribed the Navy Cross, and the Medal of Honor to me.
Yes she was awarded the Bronze Star, but did not recieve the combat "V". There is a difference. Read the citation for the Bronze Star. I don't approve of it either , but thats the way te ball bounces.

[Amtracs]

I think that you should start with the people in the Air Force that were never over there and recieved Bronze Stars.

[trimmerj]

I don't think she rates the Bronze star, but getting this removed is a futile attempt.

[USMC-FO]

i do not belive that she was entitled to the Bronze Star. However, she did not award it to herself. I do think she is doing as well as can be expected to set the record straight. What she ultimately decides to do vis a vis this award should be for her alone to decide.

The problem is the way the Army and Air Force toss off awards and ribbons for doing nothing more, in many cases, than getting in the chow line. This sort of award inflation cheapens everything further down the line including the individual medals such as the Bronze Star. Obviously too our "Army of One" set this all up as a big politically correct PR effort. That they now find themselves with their collective thumbs up their butts should hardly be a surprise to anyone on this site.

[richgitz]

I sgree with you USMC-FO, 100%. It's up to her along whether
to keep or refuse it. I also here her book is a bomb.

[greensideout]

Not only the Bronze Star.

I agree with most of what has been said here but have wondered about another award on her uniform as well.

She wears the PUC if I am correct. Did the 507th receive this award? If so I would like to read the citation.

[mrbsox]

I voted;

"She should return it own her own".

But that would only occur if she understood what OTHERS had done, to EARN theirs. I hope she has the guts to say she had done nothing 'above and beyond', nothing in the face of adversity, nothing to aid her fellow soldiers, nothing but fear for her own life.

But if she doesn't.... then can we rely on the ARMY to do the right thing???

[Sparrowhawk]

We're Marines are standards are different



The standards, the Marine Corps uses for the award of its medals far out weights those of the other branches.

I had a well decorated, Vietnam Army sgt, that now has a shrink degree, he was there when 12 other Marines that I served with in Vietnam met for the very first time.

He volunteered to film that first reunion for us. The Marines knew only that he was there as my friend, filming our three day reunion for us.

At the end of the session, he asked if he cold say something. With tears in his eyes, he shared with us how he had been awarded the bronze star, silver star, infantry badge and a host of other military awards the Army had given him for his tour in Vietnam.

Then he said, "After being here listening to your stories of war, for three days. I cna see that they are not war stories, but stories of what actualy happened, what you went through, experienced.. Anyone one of you deserves the medals I received and twice that and far higher awards. everyone of you, because you did deeds that deserves everyone of them. I realize now more then anything, that the Marine Corps standards for awarding these medals far outweights why I get them. I am just proud to have been able to sit among true warriors. thank you for letting me be in your presence." He then broke down and cried.

[RHALEJR]

I do not think she deserves the medal. I think all medals are to earned and I can not see where she earned this award. But, as my brother Marines have stated the Army does not see things as we see them. They award medals as though they are merit badges for boy scouts.

[MCG_MartyrMaker]

Malfunctioning weapon? At the risk of sounding like a Monday night quarterback:Does'nt the Army use training acronyms? How about the one known as SPORTS? When I was in boot at P.I. we used the moniker :Slap Rack Bang! In Pvt. Lynch's interview with Diane Sawyer,she told a different story by her own account. There was no criteria in her actions(by her account:head on knees,praying) to merit anything more then a purple heart,and that's only by default! Could she really give it back? Is there such an avenue for that under the UCMJ or other governing regualtion? I agree with Amtracs..what's up with the Air Force? Absolutly no shame with those zoomies!

[ridingcrops]

Don't know what the big surprise is here. There was a Army general who put himself in for a Silver Star because he got SENT to Iraq. No combat, no risk, never had his butt on the line, just sent.
Nothing unusual here. The Army always gives out medals like Halloween candy.
In Nam they were awarded medals because they were on the same push and we were lucky to get a couple of cans of extra beer.
Lynch was a woman and that seems to make a difference. The soldier who appeared on 60 Minutes seems to be the hero of the engagement. Yes he was given a medal, which he deserved, but no PR for the Army there.
And Marines have done the same thing in Iraq as most other engagements with the Army. Most of everything that had to be done.
And the Marines do what the always do, their job. Mostly without the accolades and parades and sometimes without the equiptment the Army has in abundance. The only thing they have lots of is the pride of being Marines!

[Sixguns]

Sign me up!

I am opposed to the awardingf of the medal. I agree that her actions did not merit the Bronze Star, with or with out the combat "V". I also believe that the issuance of this medal to this individual lessens the actions who also earned this award and more importantly, those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of national defense and our freedoms.

SF,

Sixguns

[Towbubba75]

I disagree with the issuance of the medal to PFC Lynch also. To cheapen the sacrifices of true heroes that have earned the award makes me very sad for the army and the people who decided to turn a very sacred award into a PR stunt.

[docrnelson]

I do not believe PFC Lynch is at fault here. I do believe she will do the right thing. This is no more than the Army taking a fiasco and turning it into a larger fiasco. This reflects badly on the US Army. Most Army vets that I know are decent, honorable people. The leadership is who comes up with the brainwashing. They needed a PR boost and she was there.

[GunsUp]

Interestingly, I had an opportunity to meet Patrick Miller as he spoke on Veteran's Day at the National Guard Armory on Ft Richardson, AK. Neat guy, very softspoken, but wow! After reading his citation for the Silver Star, I was impressed. Also, he didn't have any negative thing to say about Lynch, just that he wished her well. Anyway, just wanted to add something...

Guns

[GySgtRet]

This is nothing but a PR stunt. The ARMY needed a good feeling about the WAR to get to the public. This happened and here we are today. She doesn't deserve the award. She states that she didn't do anything to get the award. Most of the ARMY people that I know are honorable also and know that this is not correct. Isn't there a review board or something that can look at this and make it go away?

[greensideout]

How many Stars do you think the army would have to chuck-up if a review board did it's job? Ain't going to happen.

[greensideout]

FOLLOW UP ON MY LAST POST

I spent four years with the Army, two of them as a Training NCO for the Combat Engineers.

As such, I read the records of many other prior service people in the unit.

We are talking, "Stars".

Two examples that I remember well are;

The CO,

He was a Green Beret. His team was ambushed, and then the VC pulled back. (The rules of engagement at the time said that they were not to pursue the enemy when they break contact.) He caught them on a jungle trail, killing them all.

A Silver Star.


The SPC - 4,

In Nam his unit was ambushed by the VC. He dropped to one knee and returned fire with his M-60 killing all of the VC force.

A Bronze Star.


The point? Some Stars are truly earned.

[caryverell]

People, you know how we Marines grade our fellow Marines on Fitness Reports. The bottom line is will you willingly follow or lead this person into harms way. By her own admission the answer is obvious. By our own knowledge and experience we know that the Army does not teach every soldier to be a basic Rifleman. That is a Marine Concept. I think that so far the young woman has shown a lot of courage. If she is still physically capable she should have the opportunity to experience Marine Corps training.

As for the Medal - She is the one that has to live with it. It is certainly no more of a tall tale than many others heard every day. If she should choose to give it back I hope that the Army would be gracious in its receipt, and honour her for her integrity regarding the true story of the ambush.

[firstsgtmike]

GSO,

Regardless of branch of service, I have often wondered about what they who "earned" their awards felt about "Cracker Jack Boxes" or "End of Tour" Awards.
=================
On the other hand, cream rises to the top. Like all of us, I have looked at Marines, in civvies, utilities, class B and class C uniforms, no medals, no ribbons. But I KNEW who I would want covering MY Six O'clock.

Even "earned" awards, and I do NOT belittle them, are for past events. When my arse is on the line, I want to have full faith, trust, and confidence in you, TODAY.

At one time, I was a tournament caliber pool champion. How much are you willing to bet on me today? (Anything more than fifty cents is an extravagant gift to charity.)
===============
Back to the issue at hand:

Those that received their awards in Crackerjack boxes, would accept hers. Those that "earned" theirs, would have valid objections.

To those who earned, all I can say is to repeat what the hawkers at ballparks say, "Get your Crackerjacks here, a prize in each and every box."

[ALSEUT]

I have know several Viet Nam vets who turned down the Bronze Star, for doing something heroic. But you know the Army "Who wants a Bronze Star?"

[TracGunny]

When I look at a Marine's salad bar (post 'Nam), I look for two things:

If an officer, is there a Good Conduct Medal

if enlisted, is there a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

The rest is not important to me, as firstsgtmike said, it is a history lesson, and only two people know with no uncertainty if the medal was deserved: God and the recipient.

[jonh1972]

I agree fully, the problem lies with in Army Politics, which if any of ever trained with the Army, you know what I mean. Many Heroic Soldiers, Marines who did fighting came home to crying mothers, families etcc. and no reconition for there efforts, wihich is sad. Medals are good for reconition of what one has done, I know what those guys did over there and it means the world to me, my unit did not go but there still heros to me medals or no medals

[greensideout]

Originally posted by firstsgtmike
GSO,

Regardless of branch of service, I have often wondered about what they who "earned" their awards felt about "Cracker Jack Boxes" or "End of Tour" Awards.

I haven't heard those terms before, but I understand what you are saying.

The Bronze Star for an Army Officer in Nam was as common as getting a cold.

But when you see it on a Marine, there is no question.

[templemb]

I would have to agree with every single one of you. I, too, don't see how she "earned" the Bronze Star. But, I don't believe it is her fault. The Army awarded it to her, in my opinion , just for PR. They ( the Army ) really screwed the pooch on this one, but I guess when your're an "Army of One" , you really can't be any better than what you are. In the Marines, we have other Marines looking out for us, just the way it should be.

[Derrick Barber]

Yes the Purple heart she was injured but not the Bronze star she didn't do any thing desire it.

[MillRatUSMC]

Strange, I was thinking about this lately...
Much has been made of Jessica Lynch, who has been placed in a position not of her making.
The media than made more of her than she really is.
Now she stands decorated and secured in money.
Was it Fortune that place her in in that ambush?
Bad Luck or Good Luck?

The same could be said of those pictured in Joe Rosenthal's picture of the second Flag raising.
Were they just lucky or Fortunate?
The decision to publish Joe Rosenthal photo was made by someone other than Joe Rosenthal.
If one officer had not wanted the first Flag, there wouldn't have been a second Flag raising for Joe Rosenthal to shoot.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/iwoflag.htm
Nice story on Chuck Lindberg.
http://www.veteransenterprise.com/pages/mag_articles/Pictures/article_iwas2.jpg
Cpl Chuck Lindberg (standing in the middle) and Pfc Ray Jacobs (only Ray's radio shows in the photo), the last two survivors of the "first Flag raising on Iwo Jima".
Many of the first Flag raisers went to their graves without any honor given them for raising the American Flag on part of Japan.
Were all those men less fortunate than the other six.
Who are enshrined in The Iwo Jima Memorial.
Three died there on Iwo Jima.
Ira Hayes always felt that he wasn't a hero.
So did Jim Bradley.
I don't recall much about Rene Gannon, he did make use of the publicity of being part of that Flag raising.
But he never quoted as denying been a hero.

http://www.iwojima.com/raising/flage.gif
In Joe Rosenthal words...That the greatest photo of World War II.
Fortune had much to do in both of these cases;
Jessica Lynch in 2003 and the six Flag raisers in 1945.
Yet the question remains;
Should Jessica Lynch return the Bronze Star?
Only time will tell...

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[firstsgtmike]

MillRatUSMC

Sometimes, it pays to put things in their proper perspective.

Thank you.

[arzach]

Sorry Doc...I know I shouldn't diagree with a Corpsman, but in this, I will. She has yet to do a 'right' thing...what's she gonna get from larry flynt?

Army and Air Farce get medals/awards for hittin the bottom of a crapper with a turd....they get a promotion if they can hit the pizztube.

Hell, I'd rather be a Marine with no medals, than an Army/AF bozo with a chest full...doan mean nuthin'

[USMC-FO]

Arzach.....nice descriptive word use ...."hittin the bottom...." etc Paints quite the mind picture! And surprise, surprise...I actually agree with you on the basic point!

S/F

[crusader8]

I agree about how "She" should return the medal. But the odds of that happening are slim to none. She, and the Army, need that medal to stay right were the MEDIA put it. This would and will aid in the constant battle of recruiting.

[Robert Sawdy]

Honor -return it

[arnoldyG/2/5]

The last two Gulf Wars have been characterized by a lack of sustained combat. However, that does not diminish the intensity of the engagements or the deeds of the participants. We all know as Marines that the Army and other branches of the service need some way to hype themselves and this is a great way to do it. A Marine fights not for awards, but because he has been trained to fight and will do anything for his brothers and his Corps. Remember folks the other branches of the military don't have the esprit de corps that we have and medals for overhyped actions is just one of the ways to get high profile publicity

[ol'sarge]

just another example of how inept the award system in the military is. I don't know the particulars, but did D.C. put her in for it or did her ncoic or OIC?

[yellowwing]

Screw it. Let her keep it. She knows in her heart if she really warrants or not.

If nothing else it will remind her of her unit members that were not a fortunate as her.

[Sgt Ski 2/7]

I am just wondering what about the units and men who always go unrecongized in the resacue mission. What kind of awards of support did they get. Unless you were there or know one of them personally they will never get the credit they deserve. I will bet anything that they will say exact words " they were just doing thier job". I am sure many of them will go around more deserving of the bronze star than her but in the world of politics she is a recruiting tool. A nice face to tug on the heartstrings of amercia for support.

[cajunguy]

An Army of one! Yeah, RIGHT!

They gave her a medal so she wouldn't have to go to the PX and buy one. (Or several.)

[Arc Light]

It's interesting how this subject came up at drill weekend a couple of months ago. I'm in the Army reserves now, but I have the Corps burned into my head permanently, and I defend it ruthlessly.

One question I asked that stunned everyone into silence was this: If everyone in that convoy that got left to defend themselves by their brilliant CO who couldn't read his GPS was either killed or wounded and captured, leaving no eyewitnesses, then who eyewitnessed the actions of PVT Lynch?

What should have happened is this: Lynch and the other members get a POW ribbon, and a free ticket back to the states with a "Thanks for trying" letter in their pockets. Upon return, they're restricted to on-base liberty only, while the captain who screwed them is court-martialed and is now making little rocks out of big rocks. Then, the entire Army is (one company at a time) transferred to Camp Geiger, CLNC, for Marine Combat Training as well as recieving indoctrination on the defense of the Constitution from Marine Drill Instructors. Incoming and outgoing mail would be prohibited (to keep the mothers of America from finding out that their little boys and girls are becoming fighting men and women), and Marine Corps chow would be the only food they eat. Upon completion of the Advanced Combat Warfare Course For Chickensh!ts (ACWCFC), the newly revamped Army is sent back to Iraq and turned loose to wreak havoc amongst those who oppose them. 6 months, the war is over, Bin Laden is dead, Zarqawi's on death row, and we are once again, the dominating force in the free world.

[cajunguy]

Arc, you missed one minor step in that process.

They should have to first pass through either San Diego or PI for about three months to have the warrior spirit ingrained in their very souls.

THEN they could go (those who survive the three months, that is) to Marine Combat Training as you suggest.

Oops, that would make them Marines then, wouldn't it. Oh well, obviously my thinking is flawed. If they could become Marines, why didn't they do that in the first place? Simple answer - most couldn't make it.

Only the Few can.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/cajunguy/USMCflag.gif Semper Fi.

[Arc Light]

lol...that was why I suggested thet actual Drill Instructors give the indoctrination for Constitutional defense...otherwise, how would they get the fear of God instilled into them? And the course wouldn't be designed to make Marines out of the Army, it would train them not to be cowards. That's the biggest thing I see at drills: they're scared to fight. Yeah, I'm in an aviation unit, but still...it's an embarrassment to the Army that they're JUST NOW coming up with this "Warrior Ethos" garbage. By that they only prove that the Marine way of life has been right all along: every Marine, from the mailroom clerks to the portajohn suckers, knows how to fight his way out of an ambush.


Chesty wouldn't have it any other way.

[Arlene Horton]

No question... I agree with the majority on this one. My question is: did they forget about Shoshana Johnson? If the Army wants some good PR it would be a good one to give it to a Native American. Oh well....no doubt she went through h### while in captivity but the Purple Heart and a POW award should have done it. I guess if the Army trained their recruits even half as well as our Marine brothers & sisters are trained....I couldn't let this go without putting in my 2 cents.
Semper Fi Arlene

[Matt Starbuck]

Arlene said it well, the Purple Heart and POW award should suffice. This just illustrates the unfotunate "politics" involved with awarding medals.....The Army does give out medals like candy...