He certainly deserves the CMH much more than John Kerry deserved even one of his Purple Hearts during Vietnam. AWARD IT TO HIM to honor him and all of our military heroes throughout the years!
Brad Kasal is richly deserving of having his Havy Cross upgraded to The Medal of Honor. He selflessly and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to organize, assist and protect his Marines. In spite of severe physical wounds, he fought on despite a superior number of enemy combatants and continued the fight until his unit was relieved. If he did not exhibit the type of character to deserve our nation's highest award for valor, then I certainly don't understand why! James M Sorber, Vietnam Vet
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates should immediately upgrade Kasal's Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor. He also should replace the current awards committee with combat veterans who understand the importance of valor and of honoring the living. The heroes of this war deserve their day in the sun.
The fact that the CMH panel is comprised of some non-combat types is an outrage in and of itself. Because the Marine is an NCO, there is some bias right there. Its far easier to honor an heroic combat action to a military KIA than one who survived the way the current PC panel makes its decisions suspect as well. We may have to wait until the NEXT President decides to make the necessary changes on the Panel for any progress to be made on behalf of CSM Kasel.
The decision to award the Medal of Honor has always been very subjective. Read the citations and accounts for awards in WW1, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. You'll find a great range in terms of what the medal recipients did. Then read about recipients of the DSC and Navy Cross. It has long been said the difference between the MoH and DSC is often in politics, not performance.
There is no question that some awards of the MoH were not fully deserved, while many who deserved it did not receive it.
President Bush recently awarded the MoH to Woodrow Wilson Keeble. I can't think of a more deserving recipient. Keeble served in WW2 and Korea, had been awarded the DSC for action in Korea. It took more than 50 years to upgrade that award, even though he had been recommended for it at the time of the action. Incidentally, Keeble was a full blooded Sioux.
I have known a number of recipients of both the MoH and the DSC, but have never known one to boast of his bravery or to even accept the title of hero. One whom I knew very well, George Mabry, stated without equivocation that there are no living heroes. That is an opinion of many decorated veterans.
Read about Keeble and Mabry, learn what they did to be deemed worthy of the Medal, and use that knowledge as a basis for comparison when you want to evaluate some one else's valor.
At one point, awarding the MoH became automatic for those who died by placing their bodies on a grenade to protect their comrades. In Kasal's case, the grenade did not kill him. Suppose the grenade did not even detonate. Would the valor be any less deserving?
Kasal may very well deserve the Medal. I do not know enough, am not qualified, to say, and I don't envy those whose job it is to do so.
Oldman... I don't see how you would compare either of those two to say, Audie Murphy? They were ALL among the bravest people to ever wear the uniform, right? I don't see the distinctions between them.
(This is just an FYI type thing, but many may not know about it, even to this day.)
The MOH is not only a most impressive and distinctive award for astounding gallantry, but it also carries with it a lifetime financial award to the surviving honoree, and his/her spouse should the Veteran die (if I am not mistaken...?), and it is now $1000 per month, up from $600. There are about 160 living recipients as of today. It is also not subject to any tax or legal-penalty attachments, executions, levies or liens, or according to the VA(which only administers their payments) "detention under any process whatever."
Also... (The new law also provides for a retroactive payment of stipends to cover the period between the act of valor and the awarding of the Medal of Honor. For those previously non-covered months or years, the payment will be based on the rate in effect at the time of the act of valor... even if it is 60 years.)
Let me ask a question about the problem of Congress awarding the Medal of Honor. While I was on active duty, during 1975 three active duty servicemen (one officer and two enlisted) were awarded the Medal of Honor. Since then has any service member been awarded the Medal of Honor while they are still on active duty?
The pencil-necked geeks in the Pentagon keep trying to beat down the heroes. It's time to end this madness and award the hero the MOH like he deserves.
I was in fallujah with 3/1 India Co at the time and it only took about an hour or so before we heard about it "while clearing buildings" even then we were talking about how he would prolly get a MOH! He most certainly deserves it!
As is always the case our Wonderful Leaders set back and reep the glory of our Military Personnell. Were it not for this "Special Breed" of Hero's our Leaders would not even have a job. I would wonder what the vote by our "Leaders" would be if the question were "should we give them ( our Leaders)a pay raise and increase their pensions and health care ". Our Military personnell risk their life daily defending our rights here at home and the Politicians are here trying to pass laws to take our rights away. Isn't it strange that Sgt/Maj Kasel who has given so much for this Country will never come near getting what a "ONE TERM POLITICIAN" will recieve in benefits. I don't know how these people can even suggest that they are worth anywhere near what the lowest rank in the Military is worth. We have people such as Nancy Pelosi giving more money and benefits to "Illegals" who have never done a thing for this Country than she is willing to give to a true Hero. Having read the story of the Sgt/Maj how can a Politician even suggest that he does not deserve the CMOH. Respectfully Cpl.E/4 D.R.Park, U.S.M.C. 1959-1965
The Pentagon's current process for the awarding of high ranking medals is absolute nonsense! Someone said, "put the process into the hands of combat veterans." I agree. There is clearly too much brass in the current process. Don't these guys have anything else to do?
There is no question here that he deserves the CMH. Who is in charge of making the decision? Army personnell or Marine? Is this an issue of interservice rivalry? I hope this is not the case. The SGTMAJ's actions should be compared to the other Marine to win CMH (Posthumously) in this war.
