thedrifter
12-05-06, 08:32 PM
December 05, 2006
Congress to examine war medals criteria
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
Two Marine Corps veterans who have been studying inconsistencies in military awards for valor will testify before Congress tomorrow, along with defense and service personnel officials.
The House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee will look at the consistency and timeliness of awards after hearing complaints of growing discrepancies that include similar acts of valor resulting in vastly different awards.
Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., whose congressional district includes Fort Drum, N.Y., will chair the hearing.
Leading off the witnesses at the hearing will be Joseph Kinney, a Vietnam War veteran and author who has been researching award citations, and Korean War veteran Gerard “Jerry” Jonas, who has worked to help get awarded upgraded. Both are decorated Marine Corps veterans.
Michael Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, and service personnel officials, also will testify.
Because of the complaints, the Defense Department launched a comprehensive review of awards in early September that is expected to take eight months. Full details are not expected to be announced at the hearing, but some of the problems will be discussed, such as how to clarify criteria for awards and minimizing differences among the services.
Defense officials are trying to write unified guidance for some awards, such as the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, so that all services have the same policies. Whether combat awards can be given for people serving outside of combat zones — something the Air Force has been pushing — also will be part of the Pentagon review.
Lawmakers are expected to push the services on whether criteria for receiving the Medal of Honor has morphed over the years to the point where it is only awarded to those who die in a heroic act. Since the Vietnam War, the only awards of nation’s highest military medal have been posthumous.
Two of those awards have come since Sept. 11, 2001 — one for Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith and the second for Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham. Medal of Honor nominations for two other deceased Marines are still under review.
Ellie
Congress to examine war medals criteria
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
Two Marine Corps veterans who have been studying inconsistencies in military awards for valor will testify before Congress tomorrow, along with defense and service personnel officials.
The House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee will look at the consistency and timeliness of awards after hearing complaints of growing discrepancies that include similar acts of valor resulting in vastly different awards.
Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., whose congressional district includes Fort Drum, N.Y., will chair the hearing.
Leading off the witnesses at the hearing will be Joseph Kinney, a Vietnam War veteran and author who has been researching award citations, and Korean War veteran Gerard “Jerry” Jonas, who has worked to help get awarded upgraded. Both are decorated Marine Corps veterans.
Michael Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, and service personnel officials, also will testify.
Because of the complaints, the Defense Department launched a comprehensive review of awards in early September that is expected to take eight months. Full details are not expected to be announced at the hearing, but some of the problems will be discussed, such as how to clarify criteria for awards and minimizing differences among the services.
Defense officials are trying to write unified guidance for some awards, such as the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, so that all services have the same policies. Whether combat awards can be given for people serving outside of combat zones — something the Air Force has been pushing — also will be part of the Pentagon review.
Lawmakers are expected to push the services on whether criteria for receiving the Medal of Honor has morphed over the years to the point where it is only awarded to those who die in a heroic act. Since the Vietnam War, the only awards of nation’s highest military medal have been posthumous.
Two of those awards have come since Sept. 11, 2001 — one for Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith and the second for Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham. Medal of Honor nominations for two other deceased Marines are still under review.
Ellie