Why do Americans get medals for being captured w/out a fight

[obd]

I have a disturbing question: Why is it these days that Americans who get thier asses kicked without even putting up a good fight, get captured, and then are rescued being awarded all these high honor medals usually reserved for people who commit a great act of bravery such as running through mrotar and machinegun fire to help give morphine to a mortally wounded man and relieve his suffering?? Is it just me or does giving those same medals to people like Shoshana Johnston and Jessica Lynch, who later it was revealed put up no resistance at all, lower the value and honor of those awarded the medal who actually earned it??

In my opinion, those medals were handed out for political reasons because of bad press of the war and casualty's and it was a "touching story" and she was a women and it would make the Army look really swell to hand out combat medals to as many women as possilbe. I think this lowers the value of the medal as a symbol of honor to those whe earned it for truly heroic and selfless deeds. Im sorry, but getting ones ass kicked and then being captured through the luck and good grace of Iraqi's who could just as easily have shot her, doesnt quilify one for a medal in my opinion.....

I can think if 1,000 stories of MArines and Special Forces and Army/Navy/Air Force personal who really do deserve a medal for thier acts of bravery. Instead, we give out medals for getting lost, getting your ass kicked, getting captured etc.. At the very least the medals should have gone to the men/women who risked it all to rescue her and to the Iraqi doctor who was really responsible...

[mustamato]

Is it just me or does giving those same medals to people like Shoshana Johnston and Jessica Lynch, who later it was revealed put up no resistance at all, lower the value and honor of those awarded the medal who actually earned it??

Didn´t atleast Lynch´s weapon jam? Meaning that she atleast pulled the
trigger. But she had probably not cleaned the weapon that day, so it jammed,
but she tried atleast :)

[RomanS]

what does this have to do with Photos and Videos ?

[Sleeping Sun]

I don't think anyone on this forum was there... ;)

[TALOS]

I don't think anyone on this forum was there... ;)

The question and comments he made have absolutely nothing to do with being there. Jessica Lynch herself says she never fired a shot and just hid.
And I agree, she shouldnt get a medal for that apart from a POW medal if they have such a thing.

[shrek]

Most of the medals that these POW's received have a loophole of sorts in the wording of who deserves them. You don't actually have to engage in combat or even fire a gun to get a Bronze star medal. If you look on the web I think you can probably find info about the Bronze star. Hope this helps.

[Jack Mehoff]

I know one Vietnam vet who got a regular Bronze Star (Yes, the one without the V) because he extended his tour in Vietnam for an additional 6 months. So, you don't have to kill 16 enemies and save the day to earn a regular Bronze Star

I remember a story about artillerymen truck drivers during WW2 got their regularBronze Stars because they stay awake for 48hours straight to deliever artillery where it's needed

Any of you here even know the difference between regular Bronze Star and Bronze Star with V? :roll:

[steel bonnet]

Well the lynch part moreso is a Whitehouse/DoD PR job.

As said in another post,it`s a shame that the US DoD has came to making Medals a such an easy item,instead of the Acts of Bravery that those in the Past actually did to earn there`s.
Don`t get me wrong,there are those who do still deserve them,though as we have seen,there are plenty who don`t.

Whilst on Medals. Does anyone know what happened to the Royal Marine (SBS wasn`t he?) Sgt who was awarded the MOH. Is he allowed to wear it on his No1 & No2s?

Ja
Steel Bonnet

[TALOS]

I know one Vietnam vet who got a regular Bronze Star (Yes, the one without the V) because he extended his tour in Vietnam for an additional 6 months. So, you don't have to kill 16 enemies and save the day to earn a regular Bronze Star

I remember a story about artillerymen truck drivers during WW2 got their regularBronze Stars because they stay awake for 48hours straight to deliever artillery where it's needed

Any of you here even know the difference between regular Bronze Star and Bronze Star with V? :roll:
Bronze star with V is for valor under fire isnt it?

[jamesp]

Didn´t atleast Lynch´s weapon jam? Meaning that she atleast pulled the
trigger. But she had probably not cleaned the weapon that day, so it jammed,
but she tried atleast :)


I'm not totally sure what happened, but I watched this documentary about the Iraq war, and one of the guys captured said that when they came under fire, he seen Jessica just sitting in her truck unconcious.

This is the same documentary when the USMC officer told his men before they went into Baghdad, that he didn't give a **** about collatarel damage because they were in enemy territory, and they had to kill everything with every weapon they have.

[A Soldier]

Irony- Jessica Lynch is in the 504th Maintanance, and her rifle jams b/c it was not clean.

rofl

[Ichhabe]

Irony- Jessica Lynch is in the 504th Maintanance, and her rifle jams b/c it was not clean.

rofl

Sorry, but what is so funny about that?

Since your nick is "A soldier", you probably always had your equipment in 100 % working condition.

So, were have you served then?

[wulfstan]

I don't know the politics behind american medal granting, but i know that it's a big deal in the UK, as the majority of ppl awarded the VC in the British forces were awarded in post-humously, just indicating it's value to those who serve. Also, to be awarded the Victoria Cross is a BIG DEAL as all the medals are moulded from a SINGLE artillery shell casing from WW1, so there is a limited amount to be awarded in the first place.

[A Soldier]

[quote=A Soldier]Irony- Jessica Lynch is in the 504th Maintanance, and her rifle jams b/c it was not clean.



Sorry, but what is so funny about that?

Since your nick is "A soldier", you probably always had your equipment in 100 % working condition.

So, were have you served then?

I'm in the process of serving FYI, and yes I take pride in my equipment being clean. "Can't we all just get along" I guess you can't.

[A Soldier]

bitch

[TheTooth]

She was knocked unconscious from the rear-end crash into the semi-trailer. She was captured and never got off a shot. POW Medal, yes she earned it. Bronze Medal, no it was a total Washington PR thing.

[Jack Mehoff]

I don't know the politics behind american medal granting, but i know that it's a big deal in the UK, as the majority of ppl awarded the VC in the British forces were awarded in post-humously, just indicating it's value to those who serve. Also, to be awarded the Victoria Cross is a BIG DEAL as all the medals are moulded from a SINGLE artillery shell casing from WW1, so there is a limited amount to be awarded in the first place.

We have a thing call CMOH here in U.S. military. We only gave that to two Delta Force soldiers in Somalia. Nobody earned CMOH in GW1, Afghan, OEF

[wulfstan]

Jack Mehoff wrote

[quote]We have a thing call CMOH here in U.S. military. We only gave that to two Delta Force soldiers in Somalia. Nobody earned CMOH in GW1, Afghan, OEF[/qote]

I knew you goys had an equivalent, but was not sure. There must be UK equivalents given out for lessor rolls in war/operations, i think the only difference is the level of PR cover...

[wulfstan]

Ooops, my three pints of Kronenbourg are showing here, that should be;


We have a thing call CMOH here in U.S. military. We only gave that to two Delta Force soldiers in Somalia. Nobody earned CMOH in GW1, Afghan, OEF

[Dave the Dawg]

"A Soldier": what the hell is "in the process of serving"?

You have the Swallow Me and the crossed rifles as an avatar. Are you infantry? If enlisted, where on Sand Hill did you do OSUT? If an officer, when did you do IOBC?

And who's the bitch? If Lynch, what the **** kind of soldier do you think you are to insult an American soldier in a public forum?

And for most of the rest of you, there are three components of a syllogism - a major premise (or premiss), a minor premise and a conclusion. You don't know your major premise (what the actual criteria are for various awards in the US awards system, especially the distinction between a valor award and a merit award) or your minor premise (what Lynch was actually awarded a BS for - it wasn't for the ambush), so you conclusions are, in general, ate up like a soup sandwich. You want to argue, fine, but at least learn how to argue. Any dumbass can slap his paws across a keyboard and press "Submit".

[A Soldier]

"A Soldier": what the hell is "in the process of serving"?

You have the Swallow Me and the crossed rifles as an avatar. Are you infantry? If enlisted, where on Sand Hill did you do OSUT? If an officer, when did you do IOBC?

And who's the bitch? If Lynch, what the f*** kind of soldier do you think you are to insult an American soldier in a public forum?

And for most of the rest of you, there are three components of a syllogism - a major premise (or premiss), a minor premise and a conclusion. You don't know your major premise (what the actual criteria are for various awards in the US awards system, especially the distinction between a valor award and a merit award) or your minor premise (what Lynch was actually awarded a BS for - it wasn't for the ambush), so you conclusions are, in general, ate up like a soup sandwich. You want to argue, fine, but at least learn how to argue. Any dumbass can slap his paws across a keyboard and press "Submit".

I think you need to settle down. In the process means I am in training, bitch was not at Lynch in no way. READ the letters may mean something. Oh and how dare you insult "Follow Me" with "Swallow Me". I looked at your profile, what kind of officer were you?

[Jack Mehoff]

You have the Swallow Me and the crossed rifles as an avatar. Are you infantry? If enlisted, where on Sand Hill did you do OSUT? If an officer, when did you do IOBC?


That's not cool, man

[A Soldier]

seriously

[Dave the Dawg]

Oh and how dare you insult "Follow Me" with "Swallow Me".
If you ever get to Benning, maybe you'll understand; it's an inside joke. And if you ever saunter over to Kelly Hill, ask them what the Broken Television is. And if you ever get to Schofield, ask them about the Electric Strawberry. And if you know any Vietnam vets, ask them what the Psychedelic Cookie was. You're in NC; I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you can figure out what the Electric Butterknife is.


I don't know the politics behind american medal granting, but i know that it's a big deal in the UK, as the majority of ppl awarded the VC in the British forces were awarded in post-humously, just indicating it's value to those who serve. Also, to be awarded the Victoria Cross is a BIG DEAL as all the medals are moulded from a SINGLE artillery shell casing from WW1, so there is a limited amount to be awarded in the first place.

Both the VC and the Medal of Honor are highly regarded decorations.

Of the 464 Medals of Honor awarded in World War Two, 266, or 57.3%, were posthumous. As for the Victoria Cross, 181 were awarded in World War Two, of which 82, or 45.3%, were posthumous.

In World War One, 633 VCs were awarded, and 188, or 29.7%, were posthumous, while the US awarded 124 Medals of Honor, of which 33, or 26.6%, were posthumous.

Both decorations have become rarer and more likely to be posthumous since World War Two. In Korea, 71.8% (94/131) of Medals of Honor were posthumous. In Vietnam, 62.9% (154/245) were. In Somalia, 100% (2/2) were.

Four VCs were awarded in Korea and Vietnam, of which 2 in each conflict were posthumous. Both Falklands VCs were posthumous. The only other post-World War Two VC was to a Gurkha in Malaya. This Gurkha, Rambahadur Limbu VC, an Australian Vietnam vet, Keith Payne VC, and a Royal Highlander Korea vet, William Speakman VC, are the only living post-WW2 VC recipients (12 WW2 recipients are also still alive). There are 132 living recipients of the Medal of Honor as of Nov. 24, 2003 (64 from Vietnam, 50 from WW2 and 18 from Korea).

[Ian H]

FYI, the VC is actually cast from a lump of bronze made from cannon(s) captured at Sebastopol in the Crimean War. This is the war it was first awarded in.

[anonymous individual]

why would someone post something with no relation to photos or video?

[shrek]

My entire team won BS's for a certain firefight in AFG. When we got home we found out that most of the maintenance section got one as well. For what you ask? A single mission out of Uzbek. to slingload some Hummers. My entire team to the man refused to accept our medals and were no-shows at the awards ceremony.

Yall try and be civil in here. It just shows your ignorance when your not, and there's enough of that around out here!!

De Opresso Liber

[Argyll]

Gutsy thing to do Shrek,and an admirable one at that,you and your men do not need medals to tell us what type of characters they are,thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.......(Stands to attention in respect!)

[serbian boy]

Man Jessica Lynch doesn't deserve any medals!mkay
It just any war america is in the american news companies make it into some type of reality show with stuff like that stupid Jessica Lynch documenatry. In my mind somebody who lets her friends fight and die and just curls up and cries like a little baby then is all over the news and claimed an american "hero" Please that makes me sick!:oops:

[Jack Mehoff]

shrek,

You are with the 19th SFG?

[Dave the Dawg]

why would someone post something with no relation to photos or video?No idea.

Well, here are some pictures to make it a legit thread:

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/012804/images/newsmain.jpg

Dr. James Roche, secretary of the Air Force, pins a Distinguished Flying Cross medal onto Capt. Terry Sears of Pensacola Tuesday afternoon during the Air Force Special Operations Command Awards Ceremony at Hurlburt Field.

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20040206/localnews/363105-127954.jpg

Brig. Gen. Frank Helmick, left, congratulates Pvt. Dwayne Turner, right, after awarding him the Silver Star at Fort Campbell Thursday. Turner, a combat medic in the 101st Airborne Division, treated 16 fellow soldiers, saving the lives of at least two, while suffering from multiple untreated bullet and grenade shrapnel wounds during an attack in Iraq. "He is a bona fide hero," Helmick said.

And for a little perspective, I don't have numbers for the other services, but these are the numbers of bravery awards - as opposed to meritorious service or achievement - that the Army has given so far for Afghanistan and Iraq:

For Enduring Freedom, as of 31 October 2003:
Medal of Honor - 0
Distinguished Service Cross - 1
Silver Star - 24
Distinguished Flying Cross - 39
Soldier's Medal - 4
Bronze Star with Valor device - 302
Purple Heart - 236
Air Medal with Valor device - 92
Army Commendation Medal with Valor device - 129

For Iraqi Freedom as of 31 November 2003:
Medal of Honor - 0
Distinguished Service Cross - 0
Silver Star - 111
Distinguished Flying Cross - 11
Soldier's Medal - 28
Bronze Star with Valor device - 311
Purple Heart - 2,418
Air Medal with Valor device - 205
Army Commendation Medal with Valor device - 250

Notes:
1. The Distinguished Flying Cross is both a valor and merit award, but there is no distinction between the two types.
2. The Purple Heart is considered a valor award

Considering the numbers of troops involved, this is not an especially liberal awarding of valor medals.

Regarding non-valor awards, there are an awful lot of cases like the ones Shrek notes, where the Bronze Star is treated like a wartime Army Commendation Medal and the ARCOM is treated like a wartime AAM. But the actual numbers awarded indicate that the overall percentage receiving awards is relatively low (for Iraq, the total for ARCOMs and Bronze Stars without Vs is about 1 in 12 to 1 in 15). And Shrek, you no doubt know from experience that the pointy end of the bayonet, especially the QPs, always gets the short end of the stick, to mix metaphors.

[anonymous individual]

Your're the Dawg. ;)

[TALOS]

Man Jessica Lynch doesn't deserve any medals!mkay
It just any war america is in the american news companies make it into some type of reality show with stuff like that stupid Jessica Lynch documenatry. In my mind somebody who lets her friends fight and die and just curls up and cries like a little baby then is all over the news and claimed an american "hero" Please that makes me sick!:oops:

Just to set the record straight tho, so that no one accuses her wrongly, Jessica never said she was a hero, the only person to live in the hummer was her and she could easily have said she fought like a hero because others said they saw her do it. She didnt say that, she admitted that she was NOT a hero and that she DID NOT fire a round.
The award was political, however she never claimed anything and has always spoken out that she did not do anything when she could have easily kept her silemce.
Just to set things clear.

[Dave the Dawg]

Another picture of PVT Turner:

http://www.defendamerica.mil/images/photos/feb2004/profiles/pri021204a1.jpg

[hank]

So what are the criteria for Bronze Star? Bronze Star with V? I heard a report about one of the medals and they said that FDR created it so that WWII soldiers who did not earn one for injury or bravery could have a medal. Which one is that if it is still awarded?

I am just asking, somebody who knows please elaborate.

hank

[Nondescript]

Go to this site and you can read about the description and criteria for all US Army medals and Awards.

https://www.perscom.army.mil/tagd/tioh/Awards/Ribbons/OrderofPrecedence.htm

[TriggerPuller]

I have a disturbing question: Why is it these days that Americans who get thier asses kicked without even putting up a good fight, get captured, and then are rescued being awarded all these high honor medals usually reserved for people who commit a great act of bravery such as running through mrotar and machinegun fire to help give morphine to a mortally wounded man and relieve his suffering?? Is it just me or does giving those same medals to people like Shoshana Johnston and Jessica Lynch, who later it was revealed put up no resistance at all, lower the value and honor of those awarded the medal who actually earned it??

In my opinion, those medals were handed out for political reasons because of bad press of the war and casualty's and it was a "touching story" and she was a women and it would make the Army look really swell to hand out combat medals to as many women as possilbe. I think this lowers the value of the medal as a symbol of honor to those whe earned it for truly heroic and selfless deeds. Im sorry, but getting ones ass kicked and then being captured through the luck and good grace of Iraqi's who could just as easily have shot her, doesnt quilify one for a medal in my opinion.....

I can think if 1,000 stories of MArines and Special Forces and Army/Navy/Air Force personal who really do deserve a medal for thier acts of bravery. Instead, we give out medals for getting lost, getting your ass kicked, getting captured etc.. At the very least the medals should have gone to the men/women who risked it all to rescue her and to the Iraqi doctor who was really responsible... Pvt Miller did a damn good job of taking out some Iraqis that ambushed the column. When is the last time you were out on a patrol and had to fight for your life after your convoy got lost and ambushed.
You know what Iam not even gonna try and validate this to you. You sound just like another fuucking POS that knows nothing of our ways and our Military so go suck your girlfriend Mustamatos major labia you fuucktard!!!!!! All medals are not for acts of bravery maybe you should read her citation first. You prolly would have cried for mommy if you were held as a POW at least she stood tall!! You a veteran?

TP

[ogukuo72]

Another picture of PVT Turner:

http://www.defendamerica.mil/images/photos/feb2004/profiles/pri021204a1.jpg

Another brave combat medic. These guys don't get enough recognition.

[obd]

Well, first off I never mentioned Private Miller. I saw an interview with him as he went over what he did after his convoy was hit. While brave, I really dont see how what he did was any greater than the thousands of other military men did during the invasion and push to Baghdad. He was attacked and fought for his life. Sorry, I just dont see anything that stands out for a medal.

Now, the two Delta snipers, Gordon and Shugart, who volunteered to be landed alone with only small arms into the middle of a city with thousands of armed hostiles swarming towards the downed BH in the small chance they could hold them off in time to get rescued by the "lost convoy" of course deserve the highest medal for bravery possible.

When a Colonel goes out with a sniper team, fires two shots into the air after enemy spotted, and then takes the captured officers pistol (whom he didnt actually kill)and writes himself up for a Bronze star with V device, well that just makes me sick. This was common thing among "carreer minded" officers in "the 'Nam" as was reported by a Marines sniper who had this happen to him. Read the book "One Shot, One Kill" by the way for the story. It also covers Carlos Hathcocks now famous assasination of a major VC player in one of the most amazing sniper missions ever!!1 good read. Highly recomended. I Also recomend "SOG: secret wars" about...you guessed it...SOG in Laos and Camobodia.

My math teacher in high school was a Green Beret who operated around the "Parrots Beack" which was near the Cambodian border. I was good freinds with his son so this how I know. One day he brought in picture album to show the class and some captured VC stuff. Told story of village search where he almost bought farm from a VC sniper. Bullet hit a hooch he was passing about 1 inch from his face. Than they all waxed the sniper from the tree before he could climb down and run off......

Also sorry for posting in Pic forum. My mistake

[Jack Mehoff]

odb wrote:

Well, first off I never mentioned Private Miller. I saw an interview with him as he went over what he did after his convoy was hit. While brave, I really dont see how what he did was any greater than the thousands of other military men did during the invasion and push to Baghdad. He was attacked and fought for his life. Sorry, I just dont see anything that stands out for a medal.

Now, the two Delta snipers, Gordon and Shugart, who volunteered to be landed alone with only small arms into the middle of a city with thousands of armed hostiles swarming towards the downed BH in the small chance they could hold them off in time to get rescued by the "lost convoy" of course deserve the highest medal for bravery possible

What are you smoking?

That's why PFC Miller awarded a silver star and the two Delta Force soldiers got MOH for their bravery. Were you there during that ambush? If not, then STFU

You do know there is a huge difference between silver star and MOH, right? :roll:

As for PFC Lynch, you do not have to kill 16 enemies and take out 2 machinegun nests to earn a regular Bronze Star. Bronze Star with V on the other hand is another story.

[fantassin]

What about this one then, has it been awarded in the end?


[quoteHonor' where honour's due

Gabriel Syme (London)**Anglosphere*•*Military affairs

(0)

America is to award the Congressional Medal of Honour, the equivalent of the Victoria Cross, to a British Special Boat Service (formerly Special Boat Squadron) commando who led the rescue of a CIA officer from an Afghan prison revolt.

It will be the first time the medal has been awarded to a living foreigner. The Queen will have to give permission for the SBS soldier to wear it.

The SBS senior NCO led a patrol of half-a-dozen SBS commandos who rescued a member of the CIA's special activities section from the fort at Qala-i-Jangi near Mazar-i-Sharif, last November. The fort was holding 500 al-Qa'eda and Taliban prisoners, many of whom had not been searched and were still armed.

An exchange of fire developed into a full-scale revolt and two CIA officers who had been interrogating the prisoners were caught in the battle in which one was killed. The uprising went on for three days and the SBS commandos remained throughout, bringing down aerial fire to quell the revolt.

The battle was one of the most contentious episodes in the war last year with human rights groups raising concerns over air strikes against prisoners, some of them unarmed.

The eagerness of the Americans to recognise the courage of the NCO contrasts with suspicion within the regiment that two SAS soldiers being considered for VCs for an attack on the al-Qaeda cave complex will not get them.


[/quote]


US honours Briton in Afghan raid A member of the Special Boat Service has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour, the equivalent of the Victoria Cross, for his part in the rescue of a CIA officer from an Afghan prison revolt. The man, a sergeant, led a patrol of half-a-dozen SBS commandos who rescued a member of the CIA's special activities section from the fort at Qala-i-Jangi near Mazar-i-Sharif, in November 2001. The medal was awarded to the SBS commando in a private ceremony and kept quiet to preserve his anonymity. The SBS, based at Poole, Dorset, is often seen as a poor relation of the SAS but has been present at all leading special forces operations of recent years. The willingness of the Americans to recognise the courage of the NCO contrasts with the British decision not to award a VC either to the SBS NCO or to two SAS soldiers who took part on an attack on the al-Qa'eda cave complex also in Afghanistan in November 2001. One led the main attack on the heavily defended caves near Kandahar while the other directed aerial fire at the other end of the caves, putting his life at extreme risk by waiting until the last possible moment to bring down fire. Members of the SAS, SBS and the RAF squadrons that fly their aircraft were awarded four Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, five Military Crosses and three Distinguished Flying Crosses for operations in Afghanistan but no VCs. (Jan 03)

[Ichhabe]

[quote=A Soldier]Irony- Jessica Lynch is in the 504th Maintanance, and her rifle jams b/c it was not clean.



Sorry, but what is so funny about that?

Since your nick is "A soldier", you probably always had your equipment in 100 % working condition.

So, were have you served then?

I'm in the process of serving FYI, and yes I take pride in my equipment being clean. "Can't we all just get along" I guess you can't.


FYI I can get along. But there are some people in here (like you) that I'm sorry to say: Can't get along with.

As I thought, you never been in an enviroment that gives you the oportunity to see if you can take care of your equipment.

Probably you have some manouvers and exersices that gave you some picture on those days that are ahead of you, or maybe not.

PFC: Lynch was in an war zone. Yes, she was part of a maintenance battalion, and yes: she should have been able to maintain her equipment.
But as I have learned, she was not the only one.

In some units, due to work load or just plain negligance some sort of culture develops. Good or bad. In this case, a bad culture was allowd to develop.
As I've stated many times already: PFC stands for Private First Class. How many are below that??? Privates and the trained monkey that they use in the kitchen to dispose of garbage.
What I mean is that, she could barely have any influence on how the company she was in behaved due to maintain their own gear. That was for their officers to have controle over.

As I see, PFC. Lynch was a victim of surcomstanses. (Sp?)
She has many times stated herself as not being a hero.

But every 2-3 months, war horses like you gallop in here with steam out your noses wanting to discredit PFC. Lynch. And I am sick of it. You hear??? Sick of it.
First get the smell of depot out of your BDU before slanting on people that already commitet them to the cause.

And when you, after been in Iraq 30-40 days you can come back and give your point of view.

Untill then, you and I won't get along, cause we ain't compatible. OK?

[Marmot1]

The Polish order of the VIRTUTI MILITARI was established 200 years ago by King Stanislaw August Poniatowski as the highest military decoration for gallantry the Polish nation bestows upon it's soldiers for acts of heroism above and beyond the call of duty. The VIRTUTI MILITARI is equivalent to the American MEDAL OF HONOR or the British VICTORIA CROSS.

There are lot of french and englishmans who were awarded during polish-rusian war 1920 :-) also ppl from other countries there is even one japanees guy who received it.

In general there is 5ve classes of medal but only highest two can be directly compared to MOH lower clases can be compared to Silver star etc.

Medal was little "bastardized" by commnists but now it returned to proper place... there were lot of ppl who received it from comunists i.e lot of soviet generals but now there is tendencty to not recognive those meddals. And to recognice only those awarded by Goverment on Exile and those awarded by communist which are without doubt awarded for extraordinary acts.

Oryginal medal concept.
http://www.virtuti.com/order/virtuti.gif

Version from the 1922
http://www.virtuti.com/order/17.jpg

http://www.arco-iris.com/George/images/order_polish_vm.jpg

Award certificate.
http://www.uni-bel.elblag.com.pl/boguslawscy/archiwa/Stanislawthunm.jpg

http://cmhq.gry-online.pl/elementy/medale/poland_3.gif

Info about polish awards system.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/6585/history.htm

[perdurabo]

my fathers uncle has virtuti militari he serwed as a cavalery and was wounded in Berlin.