What is your favorite medal and why?

I would say mine would be the Purple Heart because it reminds me of a tragic event me and my battle buddies went through in Iraq back in 2006. But it also never lets me forget the fallen comrades of that tragic event. I relive this event every day and to this day all of us who suffered in that event have had a closer bond with each other.

I was awarded an ARCOM for winning Fort Bragg Sapper Stakes Competition. My squad was number one out of 19 other squads in BN that competed.  I  Deployed over 39 months with 3 rotations to Baghdad to get an ARCOM end of tour award. Yet I Get to Bragg as a Airborne Engineer Squad Leader in BN Sapper Stakes for 72hrs and get the same Award.  I must admit it felt good to beat out those Ranger/Sapper Tab Squad Leaders though... then the next day I was off to Airborne School.  I got the message saying I won it on the bus to Fort Benning.

I was awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal for spending 30 continuous days on the peninsula.  I was only supposed to be there for 28.  But shockingly the AMC flight that was en route to pick us up experienced a mechanical failure on a Thursday prior to a pay-day weekend... in Hawaii.  It's amazing how many AMC planes conveniently break in nice places on a pay day weekend in PACOM.  And so, I was awarded the KDSM.

I would have to say mine is the Joint Comm I received while deployed to Afghanistan. I started off working with IJC at KAIA and helping with strategic planning for the medical assessets for the country, and ended with teaching the Afghan Army and Afghan Police Nursing program and first ever Physician's Assistant programs.  Was a really rewarding experience.

The AAM I earned as an Asstistant Squadron S4 / UMO.  An E5 and I deployed a 900 man Cavalry Squadron and TAT back to Kuwait for Intrinsic Action.  I earned that badboy!

Good Conduct Medal. Both of my grand fathers, my uncles, myself and my nephew have earned them serving our country during wartime service.

I can't say I have a favorite, I wear all of them with pride.

My personal favorite of the ones that I have is the Air Medal. I am a commo guy, not aviation, so to have one is fairly rare, and I am pretty darn proud of it.<br>

The first coin I received from the 7th ENGR Brigade commander for taking charge of the Chemical decon training as a PFC at my first Duty Station in Germany in 1984

Personally, my favorite is the Navy Achievement Medal that my direct subordinate (LCpl Pike)&nbsp;received. The Marine Corps used my wording for the citation... As a Cpl, and Maint. Chief,&nbsp;it just made it that much better...