Posted on Jun 10, 2015
Why did the Army deny this Green Beret the Medal of Honor?
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In the waning days of summer 2013, Taliban insurgents launched a spectacular attack on a coalition military base in Afghanistan. A 400-pound car bomb rocked the eastern side of the installation, and about 10 enemy attackers armed with suicide vests, rifles, hand grenades and grenade launchers poured through a shattered wall.
Among those to respond was Staff Sgt. Earl D. Plumlee, a former reconnaissance Marine and Green Beret with the Army’s 1st Special Forces Group. He and some of the other troops who fought to protect Forward Operating Base Ghazni engaged in a fierce firefight with insurgents. Enemy attackers were no more than 20 feet away during portions of the Aug. 28 fight, according to military documents describing the event.
The battle yielded numerous awards for those who fought off the attack. But it is the award that was denied to Plumlee — the Medal of Honor — that has drawn attention on Capitol Hill and from the Defense Department Inspector General’s office.
Plumlee was recommended for the Medal of Honor by the head of a Special Operations task force in Afghanistan, Army Col. Patrick B. Roberson, a decision that was backed by senior generals in the field. Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, then the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and since nominated to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described Plumlee’s actions as “truly extraordinary.”
But Plumlee ultimately received the Silver Star — considered two levels below the Medal of Honor — in a May 1 ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. As he was being considered for the nation’s highest military award for valor, the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID) launched an investigation into whether Plumlee illegally tried to sell a rifle scope online. The investigation yielded no charges, but the Army’s denial has prompted allegations that service leaders only want squeaky-clean soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/06/09/the-army-denied-a-medal-of-honor-to-this-green-beret-war-hero-what-happened/?hpid=z4
Among those to respond was Staff Sgt. Earl D. Plumlee, a former reconnaissance Marine and Green Beret with the Army’s 1st Special Forces Group. He and some of the other troops who fought to protect Forward Operating Base Ghazni engaged in a fierce firefight with insurgents. Enemy attackers were no more than 20 feet away during portions of the Aug. 28 fight, according to military documents describing the event.
The battle yielded numerous awards for those who fought off the attack. But it is the award that was denied to Plumlee — the Medal of Honor — that has drawn attention on Capitol Hill and from the Defense Department Inspector General’s office.
Plumlee was recommended for the Medal of Honor by the head of a Special Operations task force in Afghanistan, Army Col. Patrick B. Roberson, a decision that was backed by senior generals in the field. Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, then the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and since nominated to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described Plumlee’s actions as “truly extraordinary.”
But Plumlee ultimately received the Silver Star — considered two levels below the Medal of Honor — in a May 1 ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. As he was being considered for the nation’s highest military award for valor, the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID) launched an investigation into whether Plumlee illegally tried to sell a rifle scope online. The investigation yielded no charges, but the Army’s denial has prompted allegations that service leaders only want squeaky-clean soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/06/09/the-army-denied-a-medal-of-honor-to-this-green-beret-war-hero-what-happened/?hpid=z4
Heroes
Medal of Honor
Special Forces
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
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It seems that MoH consistently is awarded posthumously. Can't allow an honest to goodness America lover to be catapulted to high office and threaten the cesspool of friends to our enemies, career politicians, that are destroying America.
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Suspended Profile
Politics.
And failure to separate the notion of a Medal for Heroism vs a Medal for Meritorious Service or Specific Act.
A lot of folks do not understand that there are three reasons for awarding a medal. Meritorious Service over a specific period of time (example time on station medal), a Specific Act or Event (putting together a presidential visit), and Act of Heroism (self explanatory).
For any medal there should be no periods of unacceptable behavior during the award period.
For example if I want to give a medal for Meritorious over a Specific Period of time let's say 2011-2015 you cannot have a Art-15 on your record in 2014.
Or if the Presidents Visit was from 12-13 Dec 2014 you cant have a DUI on the night of 12 Dec.
However in this case the time is the battle so as long as his behavior was acceptable during this finite time he would pass this test.
Anyway this is much bigger than a post on RP .....as I started of with Politics.....but also contributory is that many folks do not truly understanding why/when you award a medal.....I always hated hearing things like "its time for SSgt Snuggy's PCS medal to be written".....when the AFI specifically states you don't give medals solely for PCS.....anyway I digress again.....Hope this cleared things up more than it muddled them.
And failure to separate the notion of a Medal for Heroism vs a Medal for Meritorious Service or Specific Act.
A lot of folks do not understand that there are three reasons for awarding a medal. Meritorious Service over a specific period of time (example time on station medal), a Specific Act or Event (putting together a presidential visit), and Act of Heroism (self explanatory).
For any medal there should be no periods of unacceptable behavior during the award period.
For example if I want to give a medal for Meritorious over a Specific Period of time let's say 2011-2015 you cannot have a Art-15 on your record in 2014.
Or if the Presidents Visit was from 12-13 Dec 2014 you cant have a DUI on the night of 12 Dec.
However in this case the time is the battle so as long as his behavior was acceptable during this finite time he would pass this test.
Anyway this is much bigger than a post on RP .....as I started of with Politics.....but also contributory is that many folks do not truly understanding why/when you award a medal.....I always hated hearing things like "its time for SSgt Snuggy's PCS medal to be written".....when the AFI specifically states you don't give medals solely for PCS.....anyway I digress again.....Hope this cleared things up more than it muddled them.
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Did anyone ask SFC Plumlee's opinion.. is he upset about it or was he just trying to save his fellow soldiers lives..? Does HE really care about a Medal.?. or is he just happy that he was ably to help protect his brothers and sisters.. Let us not forget that a life was lost.. I truly believe that if SFC Plumee could go back and change things.. he would rather it would have been his life and NOT the life of his bother in arms.. We ,make sacrifices for each other, an oath to protect each other.. We don't do these things for Medals.. the Medals are nice but not the REASON we do this.
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1LT William Clardy
SSG (Join to see), I view medals the same way I view Article 15s -- the recipient's preferences matter less than whether or not he earned it.
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Suspended Profile
We are not talking about a normal medal here the MOH comes with many perks that I can not see anyone turning down if it were offered as an option for their actions:
A Special Medal of Honor pension of $1,259 per month above and beyond any military pensions or other benefits for which they may be eligible.
Special entitlements to Space “A” air transportation.
Enlisted recipients are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance.
Commissary and exchange privileges (includes eligible dependents).
Admission to the United States military academies for qualified children of recipients – without nomination and quota requirements.
10 percent increase in retired pay.
Medal of Honor Flag.
Allowed to wear the uniform at anytime as long as the standard restrictions are observed.
Many states offer Medal of Honor automobile license plates.
Interment at Arlington National Cemetery if not otherwise eligible.
To name just a few......
Anyway like I said....it's a little more than a MSM or Bronze Star.....in addition to the prestige of it being awarded there are tangible assets that come with it.
A Special Medal of Honor pension of $1,259 per month above and beyond any military pensions or other benefits for which they may be eligible.
Special entitlements to Space “A” air transportation.
Enlisted recipients are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance.
Commissary and exchange privileges (includes eligible dependents).
Admission to the United States military academies for qualified children of recipients – without nomination and quota requirements.
10 percent increase in retired pay.
Medal of Honor Flag.
Allowed to wear the uniform at anytime as long as the standard restrictions are observed.
Many states offer Medal of Honor automobile license plates.
Interment at Arlington National Cemetery if not otherwise eligible.
To name just a few......
Anyway like I said....it's a little more than a MSM or Bronze Star.....in addition to the prestige of it being awarded there are tangible assets that come with it.
SSG (Join to see)
All that stuff is nice MSgt Ronald Stacy.... but the man did not perform these acts of bravery for a Medal.. He did it to save his fellow soldiers.. I would love to see him receive his due reward.. I truly believe that his actions are deserving of the MOH
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There is not enough data for me to form an informed opinion. I am never going to see the paperwork or speak to the people involved his award process.
My uninformed opinion is that he should have gotten it. He was recommended for it before the CID investigation in to the scope he sold even started. Besides, how many people that have been given the MoH have a less than squeaky clean background? There are even CHILDREN in our nations military history that have gotten the MoH. Some lied about their age to get in the service.
There is something g fishy going on here...
My uninformed opinion is that he should have gotten it. He was recommended for it before the CID investigation in to the scope he sold even started. Besides, how many people that have been given the MoH have a less than squeaky clean background? There are even CHILDREN in our nations military history that have gotten the MoH. Some lied about their age to get in the service.
There is something g fishy going on here...
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Based on the write up, I don't see why he didn't get it. Between being the first one in the fight, and the aiding in the care and evac of two soldiers certainly see why he was selected for it.
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No Service Member should be denied on the bases of an accusation. He was not charged meaning the information of the report he did a criminal act could have been just someone who didn't like him as happens all the time in the service. People hint about thing that don't truly hurt the carrier of the person but prevent them from receiving there due. One of the unfortunate things of our services, but it dose not change how i feel about all who have served.
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OK It's been a while since I retired but I'm remembering something about an award only being able to be downgraded a single level. Has this policy/reg changed? or better question is why if the MOH was downgraded then why all the way to a SS and not a DSC?
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SPC Larry Crowe
not in my first unit, the Battalion commander would turn AARCOM into COA's in one swipe. he believed you had to be a sergeant or above or worked at battalion level to get anything higher than an AAM.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Politics and bullshit is what kept this hero from getting the award he deserves
Politics and bullshit is what kept this hero from getting the award he deserves
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