Posted on Feb 20, 2018
Should there be a military funeral for the JROTC Cadet killed in the Parkland shooting?
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I'm sure most if not all of you are aware of the shooting that happened on 14 February 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Where the assailant, one Nikolas Cruz, murdered 17 students and wounded another 15.
One student in particular was 15 year old JROTC Cadet Peter Wang, who unconfirmed at this time was promoted to Cadet Corporal on the day of the incident.
Cadet Wang was reported as holding the door for his fellow students to escape rather than escaping himself, and was shot and killed in the process.
UPDATE
Cadet Peter Wang was buried today, 20 February 2018 and was accepted Posthumously as a West Point Cadet in the Class of 2025 and was awarded the JROTC Medal of Heroism by the Department of the Army.
Cadet Wang was buried in his JROTC Uniform with his medal, the family was given a keepsake medal and the certificate from West Point.
There have been calls for Cadet Wang to receive a Military Funeral for his actions. There are mixed feelings regarding this as Cadet Wang was a member of his High Schools JROTC and not part of the Army ROTC or the Army.
Would it be more prudent to posthumously award Cadet Wang something like the Presidential Citizens Medal for his act of heroism since he is not a member of the Armed Forces?
UPDATE
Cadet Wang was apparently buried with military honors with Soldiers playing taps at his funeral.
One student in particular was 15 year old JROTC Cadet Peter Wang, who unconfirmed at this time was promoted to Cadet Corporal on the day of the incident.
Cadet Wang was reported as holding the door for his fellow students to escape rather than escaping himself, and was shot and killed in the process.
UPDATE
Cadet Peter Wang was buried today, 20 February 2018 and was accepted Posthumously as a West Point Cadet in the Class of 2025 and was awarded the JROTC Medal of Heroism by the Department of the Army.
Cadet Wang was buried in his JROTC Uniform with his medal, the family was given a keepsake medal and the certificate from West Point.
There have been calls for Cadet Wang to receive a Military Funeral for his actions. There are mixed feelings regarding this as Cadet Wang was a member of his High Schools JROTC and not part of the Army ROTC or the Army.
Would it be more prudent to posthumously award Cadet Wang something like the Presidential Citizens Medal for his act of heroism since he is not a member of the Armed Forces?
UPDATE
Cadet Wang was apparently buried with military honors with Soldiers playing taps at his funeral.
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Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 80
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He's posthumously receiving the JROTC medal for heroism and West Point has posthumously accepted his application. I believe those two gestures are very appropriate.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SSG Norbert Johnson Jesus, this kid died months ago! Let it go! This isn't a discussion anymore. It's not hypothetical. We KNOW what happened. Stop.
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SSG Norbert Johnson
Sorry about that SFC (), I just got this discussion thread today
RallyPoint < [login to see] > 3:58 PM (16 minutes ago). My comment would have been the same if it were 9 months ago. Thanks for the Correction.
RallyPoint < [login to see] > 3:58 PM (16 minutes ago). My comment would have been the same if it were 9 months ago. Thanks for the Correction.
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PO1 Steven Bridge
SSG Norbert Johnson - SSG, I appreciate your taking the 'Devil's Advocate' position on this.... Solid thing to do. But, I think your comparison is faulty. Your 'comparison batch was:
"To make exceptions could be likened to granting Veterans Status for those who Volunteered for Service and were granted Entry Level Separations (Discharge). I have a brother who Volunteered during the Vietnam War. "
Unlike YOUR sample batch... THIS KID laid down his life for his classmates. Full honors in my opinion. Heh... but I'd be tempted to give him the MOH as well. Seriously.... True, deep respect for this kid.
"To make exceptions could be likened to granting Veterans Status for those who Volunteered for Service and were granted Entry Level Separations (Discharge). I have a brother who Volunteered during the Vietnam War. "
Unlike YOUR sample batch... THIS KID laid down his life for his classmates. Full honors in my opinion. Heh... but I'd be tempted to give him the MOH as well. Seriously.... True, deep respect for this kid.
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SSG Norbert Johnson
No disrespect PO1 Bridge, the point I was trying to make was that the attachment to Military was Honorary. My brother with an entry level discharge was actually sworn in. Had he engaged in a similar act of Valor he would not be granted a military funeral as he would not have been determined to be a Veteran. He would be, however, be considered for civilian awards. I do support all that has been done for this ROTC Cadet and I respect your opinion.
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Cadet Wang is receiving a military award. He and several other cadets will be awarded the Junior ROTC Heroism Medal by the Department of the Army, which is fitting giving his status as a JROTC cadet. I wouldn't be against him receiving a military style funeral if it were put on by a veterans group or maybe service members volunteering their time, but an official government sponsored military funeral would be inappropriate because Cadet Wang was not a service member.
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CW3 Lysle Seelig
MSG Moises Maldonado - "Nothing But Drill and ceremonies & PT"... I think it depends on the JROTC program. I went to Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Tx. for two years and it was a hell of a lot more than "drill and ceremonies." We had a required class called Military Science where we had weapons training, first aid, military tactics, Marine Corps history and much more. Then I went to public school and AFJROTC and it was mostly drill and ceremonies and occasionally military training. But that's off topic. I'm torn on this one. Even though technically, he does not qualify for an official Military service, I think he deserves a Military "style" service because the kid had the heart of a soldier. Anyway, as some said already, it's a moot point now.
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MSG Moises Maldonado
Still.. It wasn't a Military Engagement.. So my response is still The Same.. If it was Done,, Well Good for Him.. I hope He got it.. Hey,, Pilots are my Best Heroes,, There wasn't a Better Sound to Our Ears in VIETNAM when the Huey's came to the Rescue and the BRRRRRR tat tat tat of the APACHE's... Thank you For your Service...
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CW3 Lysle Seelig
MSG Moises Maldonado - Yep, That WHOP! WHOP! is still music to my ears. Back atcha MSG.
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SGT Xenophon Garcia
I believe it would be more appropriate if his honor guard were his own JROTC unit's drill team.
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He wasn’t in the military, but I think as a posthumously accepted West Point Cadet, effectively an honorary appointment as a Soldier, sending a military funeral honors team (Common to almost all state’s National Guard) would be a solid gesture.
It costs nothing, and honors a sacrifice in the spirit and finest traditions of the Army, an organization they aspired to join.
I’d say give their family the optic, and honor their intent and actions.
It costs nothing, and honors a sacrifice in the spirit and finest traditions of the Army, an organization they aspired to join.
I’d say give their family the optic, and honor their intent and actions.
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2LT (Join to see)
It costs nothing because the National Guard funeral honors team is already on orders for that day, and is likely to make 20 or so stops anyway (If it is run anything like the team I spent a year with). That money is already spent, and that team would likely be happy to add one stop if it helped with a family's grief, or added to the Army's positive image.
As a side note, this is exactly the COA that the Army decided on. A Soldier with an auto bugle, a folded flag, and the medal that the Department of the Army decided he'd earned, along with his certificate from West Point.
As a side note, this is exactly the COA that the Army decided on. A Soldier with an auto bugle, a folded flag, and the medal that the Department of the Army decided he'd earned, along with his certificate from West Point.
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SGT J M Porters
Maj Robert Lang - I can understand how you would say that. But this is not about you. It is about those who serve in whatever, capacity that they can. All I have seen or hear about is David Hogg and his push by the media for gun control. I had never heard about Cadet Wang until today. And I am very proud of him. And as a fellow serviceman, I would like to extend my heartfelt sorrow to his family.
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SSG Norbert Johnson
There once was a Program in the State of Oregon that one could Enlist for a Day. You even got a Certificate attesting to that activity. That does not mean you are a Veteran, or a Discharged National Guard Soldier. You qualify for no service related benefits... Why? Because it is an Honorarium Certificate much like that of Bill Cosby's PhDs. For the know: "To be considered a veteran, the student must have been released from active duty. ... Students who are currently attending a US military academy and ROTC students are not considered veterans." To qualify for entry to West Point there is: Congressional Nomination and/or a Service-Connected Nomination. Students may also be appointed to the service academies based on nominations as children of military personnel who were killed in action; died from wounds, injuries or disease while on active duty; sustained 100 percent disability from
such wounds, injuries, or disease as certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs; or who are currently prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA). What I see and understand is that the West Point activity was in Honor of his act of Valor (boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery: a medal for valor). I believe his Honorary Post Humus status and "Soldier," as well as his medal/s awarded by the US Army was sufficient in this honor.
such wounds, injuries, or disease as certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs; or who are currently prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA). What I see and understand is that the West Point activity was in Honor of his act of Valor (boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery: a medal for valor). I believe his Honorary Post Humus status and "Soldier," as well as his medal/s awarded by the US Army was sufficient in this honor.
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