[f you are the hero you say you are]–

No one in their right mind claims “hero” after they survive while others did not. So you may remove that comment. That said, I have written my Congressman/Senators expressing my opposition to decorations by consensus that you advocate. Please note that it’s not your freedom to write what you wish that I’m opposed too., but rather specifically what you are advocating. THAT misunderstanding I apologize for. Let me also apologize for my abrupt communicative style. I haven’t a clue as to where I might have picked that up, but I’m sure it was between 1968 and 1976.

So you just write away. So will I.

Let me just see if I can put this whole issue in context. If not, we'll just have to agree to continue to disagree.

In reponse to your “Just stay out of it” (The Medals of Honor issue, in “The Medal of Honor: A Medal Too Far?”) comments, other niceties ["your self righteous BS." "self proclaimed media 'professional'"], and your subsequent, very kind “jackass” comments, I posted the following response:

“Father Time:

I don't give a freaking rat's ass what you are or who you are . No one, understand, NO ONE, tells me what to say or what to write, or about what.

You offend the hell out of me with your arrogant, uninformed, “stay out of this” attitude.

If you are the hero you say you are, you should know better than anyone to attempt to keep someone from expressing his opinions (idiotic as they may seem in your mind) on an issue.

At least that's why I gave twenty years of my life to our military.

Disagree with them ridcule them, if you wish–as I am doing with yours—but don't you ever tell me to shut up.

Expect many more posts on this and other isssues that are important to me, and feel free to spew your rancor.”

I stand by by my remarks. I will continue to “meddle” in Medal of Honor matters. But I do respect your opinions and in particular, I appreciate and commend you for your combat service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

It may just be, that only one Congressional Medal of Honor will be given per a number of like incidents occurring, so as to not dilute the honor. I would like you to consider this.

You have already made your case for Sergeant Peralta in another post of which I was agreeable, if not agreeing.

My accusation comments, as you have so generously reposted above, was made in response to your comments about granting MORE Medal of Honor decorations in general, which was in a completely different post of yours!. Quite dishonorable bait and switch there, “Mr. Rodriguez”.

It is not that we have to “lower the bar” slightly to include Sergeant Peralta in the Medal of Honor “cut”, but that we purposely limit our highest award for obvious reasons. Deserving or not, the military decision has already been made. No bandwagon hyperbole should change it. Likewise, nobody should be looking for a particular ethnicity, race, or, gender to pin a medal on. That is disgusting beyond limit.

Besides Sergeant Peralta is a Marine, as I in my day, and, Marines do not need medals, they just get them. If you have noticed, the Marine uniform is much less cluttered than other branches of the military. There is a reason for this. It was said about Marines by Chester W. Nimitz whom witnessed the battle of Iwo Jima, “that uncommon valor was common virtue”. As history shows, this has always been true of Marines in combat. Receiving decorations is a result of being a Marine when they do what they do, such is the nature of their duty. They ALL deserve far more decorations than what they commonly get. Though appreciated, the decorations cannot glorify them more than what they already are, having served in combat, decorations simply become part of the uniform, the Marine exists to glorify the uniform. That glorification should never be considered cheap in coming.

The Marine knows that it is all about the Marine Corps which in turn is all about The United States, not self. “Always Faithful“ is what all Marines humble themselves to follow. “Death before Dishonor”, is their stubborn oath of loyalty to corps and country. Fighting in horrible bloody battles is their job description. Decorations are the common result of performing that job description.

I will not speak for Sergeant Peralta, but I firmly believe that many Marines would be deeply offended by your politicalization of their military service.

Even if mortally wounded, as the investigation reports, I believe that a person can perform one more final act, such as “scooping” a hand grenade undes his body to protect his buddies. And even if this was a “reflexive act” who are we to know what was in this hero's mind just before he expired.

But, as will surely be pointed out, I am no neurosurgeon nor neurologist. However “Four other experts — Peralta’s battalion surgeon, and two neurosurgeons and a neurologist who examined the autopsy reports — said Peralta could have knowingly reached for the grenade. They say the ricochet was traveling at a ‘low velocity’ and would not have immediately killed him.”

I would've been red-assed at anyone doing it under any previous president. If there's poltics played with awards, and I don't beleive anyone thinks otherwise, it's _ internal military_ politics.

Has nothing to do with either GW or BO.

BTW, I categorically reject your rejections.