Crazynuff said:
Are you trying to make a point here ?
Yes I thought it was clear.
The medal is awarded for courage displayed at risk of one's life .
I'm aware of that.
Specialist Giunta ran out alone chasing terrorists dragging his friend off . He was under no cover at all .
He did do that and was bestowed the Medal of Honor,
which I whole Heartedly believe he deserves.
I fail to see how an enemy body count should be any factor in this .
In the case of SSG. Sal Giunta, it doesn't I was clearly talking about recent awards.
Here is what I'm talking about:
I have deleted his name and unit for a good reason, you'll just have to trust me.
Rank and organization: U.S. Army, For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5c. , a tank driver with Company B, was a member of a reaction force moving to aid other elements of his platoon, which was in heavy contact with a battalion size North Vietnamese force. Sp5c. tank, upon reaching the point of contact, threw a track and became immobilized. Realizing that he could do no more as a driver, he climbed out of the vehicle, armed only with a .45 caliber pistol. Despite intense hostile fire, Sp5c. killed several enemy soldiers before he had expended his ammunition. Returning to his tank through a heavy volume of antitank rocket, small arms and automatic weapons fire, he obtained a sub-machine gun with which to continue his fight against the advancing enemy. Armed with this weapon, Sp5c. again braved deadly enemy fire to return to the center of the ambush site where he courageously eliminated more of the determined foe. Engaged in extremely close combat when the last of his ammunition was expended, he killed an enemy soldier with the stock end of his submachine gun. Now weaponless, Sp5c. ignored the enemy fire around him, climbed into his platoon sergeant's tank, extricated a wounded crewmember and carried him to an armored personnel carrier. He then returned to the same tank and assisted in firing the main gun until it jammed. In a magnificent display of courage, Sp5c. exited the tank and again armed only with a .45 caliber pistol, engaged several North Vietnamese troops in close proximity to the vehicle. Fighting his way through devastating fire and remounting his own immobilized tank, he remained fully exposed to the enemy as he bravely and skillfully engaged them with the tank's externally-mounted .50 caliber machine gun; where he remained until the situation was brought under control. Sp5c. profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
I served with this Hero when the President was going to present him with his Medal, He refused to go to the Ceremony saying to the affect; "Give the medal to the people that were killed during the war"
If you read the Citation for SSG. Giunta, the tone is completely different in my opinion, to me it's written in a way to soften the facts of war.
He saved several men and had to dispatch several enemy combatants in the process. In the narrative of the Citation I posted I see a Warrior killing the enemy with whatever is at hand, going back for more stuff to kill some more so that his fellow soldiers will stay alive.