From: "John Hurst", [EMAIL PROTECTED] Newport News Daily, June 16, 2000 'Combat' Outside The Front Line Merits New Medal By Jim Spencer, Daily Press Think of it as the armed forces version of social promotion. Recent news reports reveal that the Air Force has issued America's fourth-highest combat medal, the Bronze Star, to hundreds of people who never got close to a battlefield. The service made the awards for participation in the Kosovo campaign. Thing is, a dozen of the warriors decorated for their courage in stopping ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia never left Missouri. One "fought" from Dayton, Ohio. Four others gutted it out at the Pentagon. And another 212 received recognition for fighting in Kosovo while in Italy, England, Germany and Spain. Talk about profiles in courage. Here's an official statement the Air Force offered to explain its actions: "As the USAF developed a global reach during the Cold War, an ever increasing number of USAF personnel were called upon to support military operations involving combat, even though they were located thousands of miles from the shooting." Seems like the Air Force hopes to redefine combat the way Bill Clinton hoped to redefine sex. Seems like the service's word games are as nakedly self-serving as the president's. If recognition had gone to lower-ranked personnel who busted their butts to make the bombing in Eastern Europe a success, this wouldn't be such a big deal. Instead, 192 of the 246 Bronze Stars the Air Force passed out went to people with ranks of major or higher. Many of these awards went to those who oversaw such dangerous missions as the building of tent cities in Kosovo or managing supply lines in Western Europe and the continental United States. Then there were those warriors who laid their lives on the line giving briefings. Apparently, the brass feels short-changed by the peace dividend. In that vein, here are a few suggestions that will enhance the modern Air Force's future ability to pad resumes. * Henceforth, the Purple Heart will be awarded to any senior officer who risks carpal tunnel syndrome while clicking a computer mouse in documents that include the word "airpower." Also eligible will be those majors, colonels and generals who receive paper cuts leafing through reports that contain at least one reference to "war fighting effort." * The "V" insignia, which designates valor in combat, will forthwith extend to those who must cross the street against traffic while hurrying to headquarters for domestic strategy sessions about foreign troop deployments. * A brand-new fighting spirit award, the Canvas Cluster, will go to any commander who can get his men to pitch tents, load supplies or offer other kinds of support within 1,000 miles of where a single enemy round has exploded in the past month. * Also new, the Red-Eye Ribbon will commemorate the bravery of those battling sleep as they sit trapped for hours in their offices reading reports from the front. * Finally, there will be the Tin Star. Destined to become America's fifth-highest combat decoration, this award will go to the public affairs officers who will soon be policing nosy reporters asking questions about the dispersal of gratuitous medals. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
