Posted on Sep 17, 2015
Beau Biden-Military Decorations and Stay at Walter Reed
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I am wondering how the VP's son managed to get into Walter Reed while not on active duty and how he ended up with the Bronze Star let alone the Legion of Merit upon his death?
For the final few years of his life, Biden suffered from brain cancer. On May 20, 2015, he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, because of a recurrence of brain cancer; he died there 10 days later. I empathize his death and applaud his service but...
Biden joined the military in 2003 as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard and was a Major in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps as part of the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware.
Biden received a visit at Camp Victory from his father on July 4, 2009. Biden returned from Iraq in September 2009, his yearlong stint on active duty complete. Biden had announced that during his deployment he would continue to actively serve as Delaware's Attorney General by working in conjunction with his office's senior staff in Delaware. During his year of service in Iraq, Beau returned home only once — to see his father take the oath of office for vice president.
Beau received the Bronze Star for his service, a military medal that celebrates “heroic or meritorious achievement.” The act justifying award of the medal must be performed while fighting an enemy of the United States, or while involved in conflict with an opposing/foreign force. It can also be awarded for heroism while serving with friendly forces engaged in combat against an opposing military in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Bronze star is supposed to be for heroism - not for just showing up and he was a lawyer.
Army Chief of Staff Raymond Odierno presented Beau Biden with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard. Odierno, Beau Biden’s commanding general in Iraq, also lauded his comrade’s military service overseas. The general presented Beau Biden with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard. The award honors exceptional merit in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.
For the final few years of his life, Biden suffered from brain cancer. On May 20, 2015, he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, because of a recurrence of brain cancer; he died there 10 days later. I empathize his death and applaud his service but...
Biden joined the military in 2003 as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard and was a Major in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps as part of the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware.
Biden received a visit at Camp Victory from his father on July 4, 2009. Biden returned from Iraq in September 2009, his yearlong stint on active duty complete. Biden had announced that during his deployment he would continue to actively serve as Delaware's Attorney General by working in conjunction with his office's senior staff in Delaware. During his year of service in Iraq, Beau returned home only once — to see his father take the oath of office for vice president.
Beau received the Bronze Star for his service, a military medal that celebrates “heroic or meritorious achievement.” The act justifying award of the medal must be performed while fighting an enemy of the United States, or while involved in conflict with an opposing/foreign force. It can also be awarded for heroism while serving with friendly forces engaged in combat against an opposing military in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Bronze star is supposed to be for heroism - not for just showing up and he was a lawyer.
Army Chief of Staff Raymond Odierno presented Beau Biden with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard. Odierno, Beau Biden’s commanding general in Iraq, also lauded his comrade’s military service overseas. The general presented Beau Biden with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard. The award honors exceptional merit in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.
Posted in these groups: Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 30
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As a multiple-tour combat veteran to the Middle East as a US Marine, I too would like to know EXACTLY 'what' Maj Biden did to deserve the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. If there's any MOS that is far-removed from combat it's the JAG corps. So, this begs the question; WHAT did he (Biden) do, and how did he manage to earn both of these? Was it because his dad was VP, and further his own (Beau's) political aspirations?
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LCDR Bruce Sheppard
Reminiscent of LBJ's Silver Star he got fm visiting a command in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He rode along on a B-25 on what was supposed to be a milk run, but got involved with some Zeroes and escaped back to base. The actual crew of the aircraft got NO RECOGNITION, as the story goes
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
LCDR Bruce Sheppard - , Dugout Doug later said that it was the most UNDESERVED SS in the SW Pacific Theater. He should have known as that was his command.
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Bill Sohonage
The Army alone awarded over 170,000 Bronze Star Medals in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, only 4,500 of which had the accompanying “V” device, which denotes exceptional valor.
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The unfortunate "truth", at least as I saw it around the 2006-2009 period, is that some awards are becoming tied to rank/duty station...rather than being evaluated as truly "individual" awards. The debate over the Bronze Star is well known...I will add that I actively opposed being recommended for it until a senior NCO convinced me I was making a tempest in a tea-cup for nothing. I was proud to end up with the MSM instead.
Being the son of the VP has likely always had it's perks (Though let's not forget that one former President's son went to great lengths to lead his men into battle at Normandy). I will say that though I'm not the biggest supporter of his father's party, or "boss"...what very little I've read about Major Biden indicates he was a good apple overall. It's sad his less fortunate comrades may not enjoy the same level of care or support...but I don't think it's unexpected or likely to change in our lifetime.
Being the son of the VP has likely always had it's perks (Though let's not forget that one former President's son went to great lengths to lead his men into battle at Normandy). I will say that though I'm not the biggest supporter of his father's party, or "boss"...what very little I've read about Major Biden indicates he was a good apple overall. It's sad his less fortunate comrades may not enjoy the same level of care or support...but I don't think it's unexpected or likely to change in our lifetime.
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He got those medals because of his dads status. He was a fucking JAG. He didn’t see combat He just showed up. There are thousands who gave their lives and are buried in Arlington that never got medals. He’s a fraud and so is his Fucking Idiot Dad. Vote for him and watch what happens to this great country...
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I don't begrudge anybody who served. However in my opinion he joined to further his political career. I have seen too many people receive awards simply for showing up.
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Leigh Bedard
Doesn't the fact that he recvd a bronze star for not really fighting for it just demean what it really stands for? My brother recvd 4 and a purple heart which had made me a gold star sister. He gave 25 yrs to the army beau gave 1..WTH?
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I'm not entirely sure what you see wrong here. The son of a Senator, who is himself a senior official in Delaware, deploys to Iraq when he very well could have gotten out of it. He even got permission to change his name tape so no one would know who he was. He received a Bronze Star (Which is NOT a valor award unless it has a V, which his does not) for going and an LoM upon his death, which is not an unusual PCS/Retirement award for senior enlisted/officers from what I've seen.
He had ample opportunity to not serve his country and chose to. He deserved them both.
Are you asking this because you question his service or because you don't like his dad?
He had ample opportunity to not serve his country and chose to. He deserved them both.
Are you asking this because you question his service or because you don't like his dad?
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SPC Charles Behm
I was 27 joined the Army on Sept 12th 2001 had a career in IT making 60k not bad. No I did not know anyone in NY. I was deployed Feb 14th 2003 to Iraq as a Engineer Combat Heavy unit. Did a 1yr tour lead convoys all over IRAQ MSR Tampa was my home. Never received an award except a CAB I earned, guess I should have been someone's son.
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HN Sheldon Nadler
These are my questions: Why did he receive a Bronze Star; why did he receive an LoM upon his death; and why was he admitted to Walter Reed Hospital after his military discharge?
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CPL Ron Aragon
I served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam in 1971 and was told by several different officers at various different times during my tour of Vietnam that I would be awarded the Bronze Star Medal more than four times for valor in combat, but never received one with or without a V device. I was serving on active duty, living in Vietnam in the field, and never once received any meritorious medals although I did receive a CIB (Combat Infanryman Badge) for my efforts. I never made more than about $80 per month as opposed to Beau Biden's more than $100,000 per year for doing less than I ever did in the United States Army as a combat soldier, or even as a signal corps member when I was stationed stateside at Fort Hood, Texas. Looks like the U.S. Government pissed and shit in my coffee cup, and then told me it was coffee, and said, "here drink up, soldier. Enjoy."
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Walter Reed/Bethesda has been the Hospital for Senior Members of the Government and their Families as long as I can remember. Even retired senior members of Government.
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CPT Elizabeth Foster
I was a nurse on the Executive nursing ("VIP") suite at the original Walter Reed Army Medical Center. (Not while MAJ Biden was there.) Many assume the unit is there to provide a special, as in more posh, environment and better doctors and nurses. I can tell you there are many other reasons, most of all a high level of security and added privacy for those who may need it. The same doctors and nurses who provide care to other patients provide care to the "VIP's". I can also tell you I have observed many a General officer or high ranking public official continue to work from their sick beds or resume working much sooner than other patients following illness, injury, or surgery.
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SFC Steven Borders
LCDR (Join to see) - Sir you couldn't be more correct it is a major part of it is security. Having worked with the White House Communications Agency. I have seen it first hand. The President and VP have Secret Service for their family no matter what the ages are of their children.
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HN Sheldon Nadler
There is a major difference between Beau and Hunter Biden. Does Hunter get the same medical benefits as Beau? To me it makes no difference since Beau recieved an Honorable discharge and Hunter with a General discharge!
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By this metric I am eligible for a Bronze Star as a services sq airman in Desert Storm. SMDH!
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I have been wrestling with this issue for the past couple of weeks and I appreciate all the comments.
Nothing against Beau Biden but I found the White House post a little over the top when it comes to his military service.
Nothing against Beau Biden but I found the White House post a little over the top when it comes to his military service.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Totally understood and you're not off base to wonder. I had to look into quite a bit before I responded as well.
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That is interesting CPT (Join to see). I was operated on in Walter Reed Army Medical Center while I was mobilized in 2003. At that time there was a floor in Walter Reed Army Medical Center dedicated to VIPs such as congressmen and the President.
In 1990 I was jogging in my Army PT uniform and entered the Bethesda Naval Hospital campus just as barbara Bush was being flown in via helicopter for an appointment. The secret service instantly stopped me until the First Lady was inside the building.
Based on my knowledge and experience with surgery and treatment at Walter Reed, I understand why the son of the Vice President of the United States was treated in Walter Reed even if he was not currently on active duty.
The Bronze star can be awarded for valor or meritorious service in an area of operations. The Legion of Merit is based on the previous 10 years of service if I remember correctly and is awarded when somebody with sufficient rank signs the request for orders for award. I don't have any idea what Beau Biden accomplished in his military career. However, I would expect that being the son of the sitting VPOTUS may have something to do with his awards. That is not to say they were pressured by the administration or congress to sign the orders for the awards.
In 1990 I was jogging in my Army PT uniform and entered the Bethesda Naval Hospital campus just as barbara Bush was being flown in via helicopter for an appointment. The secret service instantly stopped me until the First Lady was inside the building.
Based on my knowledge and experience with surgery and treatment at Walter Reed, I understand why the son of the Vice President of the United States was treated in Walter Reed even if he was not currently on active duty.
The Bronze star can be awarded for valor or meritorious service in an area of operations. The Legion of Merit is based on the previous 10 years of service if I remember correctly and is awarded when somebody with sufficient rank signs the request for orders for award. I don't have any idea what Beau Biden accomplished in his military career. However, I would expect that being the son of the sitting VPOTUS may have something to do with his awards. That is not to say they were pressured by the administration or congress to sign the orders for the awards.
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