Posted on Jan 25, 2014
What are some of the most absurd incidents you have witnessed of an individual or group being awarded the Combat Action Badge (CAB)?
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So, what are some of the most absurd incidents you have witnessed of an individual or group of Soldiers being awarded the CAB? <br><br>During our Iraq deployment in 08-09, our Battery was attached to the TX NG. We were in the lead vehicle literally feet behind the trail vehicle of one of their convoys and we were sitting at the entrance to BIAP. Monitoring their radio frequency, we overheard their trail vic come up on the net and say they were receiving small arms fire. So, being RIGHT behind their bumper we looked around and saw nothing, heard nothing. I sent a message back to their TOC via MTS and stated in a professional way, that they were full of shnitzles. The whole truck was given CAB's. Ahhh, that feeling they must have had going home as heroes,,, <br>
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Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 40
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There are so many unjust awards...but I think more people get denied awards because they didn't roll with the right people. All in all, I am proud of my service and I know what I accomplished. The recognition is appreciated, but a lack thereof isn't breaking my heart.
I love you all! Thanks for your opinions on this and so many other subjects.
I love you all! Thanks for your opinions on this and so many other subjects.
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I knew a soldier (S6) who was on the roof fixing an antenna that received a CAB because of indirect fire (1 round) was fired over the FOB.
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The magic EOD theory., I witnessed one officer in a vehicle in a convoy awarded one, the NCO he put in for it refuse it because they thought the "incident" was BS and the 2 other occupants of the vehicle deemed ineligible to receive it.
Things that make you go WTF!!
Things that make you go WTF!!
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I'm kind of mixed in my opinions . I think the CAB originally had good intentions but it was twisted. Kinda seems like the "everybody gets a trophy" mentality.
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SFC (Join to see)
Thank you sir. I'm with you on this one. CAB's are like Bronze Stars these days. We've all seen high ranking officers with CAB's. I'm pretty confident in saying 4 star generals don't see much action in the field. Yet there they are on the wall of every unit wearing a CAB. I know a lot of soldiers who have CAB's who were nowhere near anything resembling combat. Soldiers are very good at pencil whipping these days. Long story short there seems to be a severe lack of honor and integrity these days. Retirement can not come soon enough.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) agreed. I was a buck sgt bradley commander for 5 months in Iraq. Had a 4 man crew and ran countless patrols. At the end of tour all bradely commanders received bronze stars but me because I wasn't a SSG. Rank has its privaleges. Awards system broken.
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When I first got to my unit they had just returned from OIF 5, and pretty much every person in the Battalion got a CAB for mortar attacks. When we deployed in 06 the requirements changed, and even though we were attacked during a recovery mission (Rockets and Small Arms), we didn't get ours.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
We were at Cp Victory in Baghdad and only exposed to danger en route to our detention facilities. Once we had a mortar come over the wall, another time an EOD went off about 1/2 mile away but nothing constant, hence the birth of the CAB seekers. One time a few rounds came over the wall while we were on the in-compound shuttle bus (in nothing but duty uniform - no protective gear) A senior officer wanted us all to fill out sworn statements attesting to the incident because we (he) should get CABs. REALLY?? a few stray rounds that went over the bus's head and we were in imminent danger? The old reality distortion field at work again.
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I think so, I've seen so many get one for being near an incident, but not really in danger.
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CAPT Hiram Patterson
How are you doing Steve? None of us got any awards that day the bad guys launched that salvo of 15 107's at The Palace one afternoon in '08.
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During OIF III in 2005, while at FOB Prosperity, we received a rocket attack (just one rocket), it hit a wall near the maintenance BN. Two soldiers were wounded from debris from the explosion (minor injuries, but wounded none the less). Those two soldiers deservedly received Purple Hearts, and their entire BN received CABs, even soldiers in the BN that were located on other FOBs, but none of the other units at FOB Prosperity received a CAB for the incident!
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