August 23, 2004

Deserving? Blair has refused to travel to Washington to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor that has been awarded him.

Regardless of the political wrangling, does Blair really fulfill the requirements of the award?

"The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the Army, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." [Emphasis mine]
I think not. Now your president is cheapening the memory of those thousands of people who have rightfully been awarded these medals.
posted by Skrik 20 years ago
  • He's not mine, hasn't been for some time now. Just when you think he can't get any worse...
  • I say just give him the appurtenances. I once had an appurtenance, and its brightly coloured coat and mellifluous singing voice gave me many hours of pleasure.
  • Do we know whether this medal has been given to foreign politicians in the past? Did Churchill ever get one?
  • He's not mine, hasn't been for some time now. I appreciate the sentiment, mct, but he is yours, unfortunately, in the same way that the pink bunnyeared footie pajamas your inbred Aunt Mabel gave you for xmas are YOURS, like 'em or not. Except in this case, they're footie pajamas that ASPLODE!
  • Tenacious-ROFLMAO!
  • Just casually browsing through that list, I don't see any foreign dignitaries winning any of these, with the exception of the ones presented to the unknown soldiers of various countries.
  • This makes me smile.
  • *He's not mine, hasn't been for some time now.* I can relate MCT. He never was mine, I never voted for him. As far as I can tell he stole the election to begin with, he was foisted upon me. His ploy to boost his re-election bid by "awarding" this medal, is another example of his sleaziness.
  • TP, best argument by analogy ever. But I accept him as my president only in a technical, dubiously legal sense. Like, you know, teen pop. It's there, I know it's there and I have to accept that, but I'd rather pretend that it doesn't exist, because it's vapid and ultimately does more harm than good.
  • Ummm, no. I hate for my first-ever post to be a wet blanket , but this article has its medals a little mixed up. The Medal of Honor (the "Congressional" part is not actually in the name) is a military award given for actions in combat. The Congressional Gold Medal is awarded to, well, whoever. Not that I wouldn't love for this to be true, mind you, but not even this administration is that clueless. But hey, at least we got some asploding footie pajamas out of this.
  • That would explain it. Must have been a brain fart down at the Mirror. All of the AFP stories seem to correct the link in the FPP.
  • Monkeyfilter: Except in this case, they're footie pajamas that ASPLODE!
  • I used to work for this man, Frank Pierce, who was a Medal Of Honor recipient. The idea of giving Blair the Medal of Honor is simply ludicrous once one reads the exploits of Frank (emphasis mine):
    PIERCE, FRANCIS JUNIOR Rank and organization: Pharmacist's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy serving with 2d Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, 15 and 16 March 1945. Entered service at lowa Born: 7 December 1924, Earlville, lowa. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to the 2d Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, during the Iwo Jima campaign, 15 and 16 March 1945. Almost continuously under fire while carrying out the most dangerous volunteer assignments, Pierce gained valuable knowledge of the terrain and disposition of troops. Caught in heavy enemy rifle and machinegun fire which wounded a corpsman and 2 of the 8 stretcher bearers who were carrying 2 wounded marines to a forward aid station on 15 March, Pierce quickly took charge of the party, carried the newly wounded men to a sheltered position, and rendered first aid. After directing the evacuation of 3 of the casualties, he stood in the open to draw the enemy's fire and, with his weapon blasting, enabled the litter bearers to reach cover. Turning his attention to the other 2 casualties he was attempting to stop the profuse bleeding of 1 man when a Japanese fired from a cave less than 20 yards away and wounded his patient again. Risking his own life to save his patient, Pierce deliberately exposed himself to draw the attacker from the cave and destroyed him with the last of his ammunition Then lifting the wounded man to his back, he advanced unarmed through deadly rifle fire across 200 feet of open terrain. Despite exhaustion and in the face of warnings against such a suicidal mission, he again traversed the same fire-swept path to rescue the remaining marine. On the following morning, he led a combat patrol to the sniper nest and, while aiding a stricken marine, was seriously wounded. Refusing aid for himself, he directed treatment for the casualty, at the same time maintaining protective fire for his comrades. Completely fearless, completely devoted to the care of his patients, Pierce inspired the entire battalion. His valor in the face of extreme peril sustains and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
    unreal. blair? give me A BREAK!!!!
  • um. never mind. /roseannadanna
  • Yes, never voted for anyone in his family, but -- like the rest of the world -- stuck with him all the same; he's the global version of the abusive father.
  • An article in the Mirror getting things wrong? Never!