Why don't we wear our medals?

[Duckster]

Moderators, I know this is not a gun question, but there are plenty of veterans on THR that are and may be interested in this question.
I noticed that alot of other countries' veterans proudly wear there medals on there clothes when they retire or finish there service. Why don't we as Americans do the same? I'm like others am proud of my service and sacrafice just as others are from different countries, why not here?

 

[BullfrogKen]

Some do, but they do it in venues when they meet with other veterans. I think it would be kind of tacky to go to the office with my medals pinned to my chest for all to see. Especially folks who don't know what they are. Men who have really seen the dark side of humanity in war don't like to talk about how they got that Silver Star. "What's that? Really, how did you get it?"

Veterans recognize each other's medals, and are generally much more tactiful and polite, and know either not to ask, or ask in such a way that men don't have to go into details. Plenty of men with medals might not want to be reminded of things they wish they never knew, and spent years trying to come to terms with.


Moved out of L&P to GGD.

 

[Biker]

Speaking just for me, I generally like to keep my bidness to myself. I'm making no judgements on other vets, we all have reason to be proud, IMO. I go up to the local Vets hospital and play some blues for the guys and shoot the...um...feces with 'em every now and then. Took a few of 'em for a ride on my scoot. That's medal enough for me.
We all have our ways.

Biker

 

[Dmack_901]

I would have to attribute it to a form of modesty.

IMHO, Serving your country is the able man's duty, and while it is something to be proud of, it's not something to boast about as though it makes you a better person. Granted, it very well may, but regardless, I feel it's somewhat unamerican unless at a related event.

 

[mattw]

My father has a little bit of a fruit salad from when he was in Vietnam and from a few combat actions after he left Vietnam. He doesn't display anything that would lead anyone to believe he had served in the military, much less the fact that he has been awarded medals for combat actions. The only thing he has that might tip anyone off is the "Devil Dog" tag he has on his front bumper of his truck.

He looks at his service as something that he did because it was the right thing to do and his country needed help, not so that he could flaunt his medals. I like to think that we Americans have a little more class than some people from other countries.

I'm not trying to bash on your service or your medals, I appreciate your effort to keep our country free. Just sharing (what I believe to be) dad's views on the matter as I've no military experience of my own (yet).

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A couple of years ago, I met a fellow on a political campaign, and we had a short talk -- both of us being veterans. He said, "It can happen just like that." And I said, "Yeah."

What more was there to say?

 

[Batmaxwyo]

There are great opportunities to wear your medals on Veterans day.

 

[Steve 48]

I have not worn my medals since I got back from Vietnam in 1969. I have only shown them to my family and that took 35 years. It was a rough time over there and back here at home and I would just rather leave it alone. When you leave before the job is done, you are not proud of what you have done IMHO.Steve48

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Colonel Gus Altwer

Gus was an engineer that worked in our industry for years, and with our company for months, before sitting down in front of the TV one evening, never to rise again.

In the early sixties, Gus, a native of Argentina, wishing to help get his family out to protect them from the death squads, and working with a group called, if I remember rightly, "Friends of America," joined the United States Marines.

Part of the deal was that his family would be brought to the States, and he would gain American citizenship.

He fought alongside our guys in Viet Nam, and other places where our forces never were. He was in the . . . hunting . . . business, if you will.

When he finally retired from the USMC, he did so with the rank of Lt Col and a bunch of ribbons most of us have never seen.

He never obtained his American citizenship. That part of the deal somehow fell through. He was, however, granted permanent residence, and his entire family -- parents and siblings -- now lives in the USA. He worked as an electronics engineer for the rest of his life, even unto his final day.

He showed up every day wearing his insignia of rank and USMC. He occasionally also wore one of the obscure ribbons from his collection.

He never got his citizenship, yet he was more of an American than most folks I meet. He loved this country and truly, truly appreciated what it stood for. He was heard to say, on occasion, that not only would he do it all again, but he would lay down his life for our country any time the need and opportunity presented. He never bragged about it. He never told the war stories. It was just life.

His step-daughter joined the USMC the year before Gus died. He couldn't have been prouder. I met her at his wake. His baton had been well and truly passed.

He wore his ribbons quietly and with pride.

I'm glad I knew him.

 

[Biker]

~Salute...~

Biker

 

[grampster]

Arfin,

You said "...he loved this country..." I disagree. He loved his country, our country. He had earned his citizenship by his valor and his service.

 

[Aaryq]

Unless it's a patriotic time of year, I'm out visiting the elderly, or I see someone in a place where servicemembers/former servicemembers frequent, I'm a little suspicious of people wearing medals. Especially someone with a lot of chest candy. It's starting to become a new craze for people who are either former military or people with no military time to wear rank insignia and medals that they didn't earn. My father retired in 1985 from the Marine Corps and never once have I seen him wear his medals (although he does have them on display on his "semper fi wall"). I'm still active duty so it's out of regs for me to throw on my medals unless I'm in uniform but when I'm done in the Marines I don't intend on wearing my medals or uniforms except for the various patriot holidays, where I will only wear them during parades, memorial services, and church.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Not trying to take anything away from Gus Altwer, who seems to have been a decent fellow, but... how does a guy get a military commission without being a U.S. citizen? To the best of my knowledge and personal experience you cannot even get a security clearance, much less a commission and promotion to Lt.Col. without U.S. citizenship.

God bless Gus Altwer for his service but the report seems wrong. I'm posting in the interest of accuracy, not to denigrate the man.

 

[Will5A1]

Wearing decorations when not in uniform is not very decorous, at least in this country, except, perhaps, when at gatherings of other veterans as suggested by previous posters. Every decoration/medal set I received from the U.S. Army included a lapel pin; I do wear a label pin when wearing a sport jacket or suit now and then. But to each his own, if someone earned and wants to wear a chestful of full size medals and a CIB and jump wings, they're his to wear.

 

[doc2rn]

Flashman it's called crossing decks. Both countries trade officers for training, and joint maneuvers experience. That is generally how you come to see high ranking officers without US citizenship.
I don't need to wear my medals not because I am not proud of what I have done, but because it would weigh a ton. I have 19 of 'em. I feel like wearing medals is like putting on aires. Most would agree to wear them is to announce "see what I got for typing in a combat zone". :banghead:

 

[Will5A1]

Re: Non citizens holding commissions

Years ago, I think up till the late 1970 or eraly 1980's, there were provisions for commissioning non-citizens, this is pre-Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA). Way back when I believe it was possible to get a AUS (Army of the United States) Commission if you were not a citizen, the Navy and Marine Corp probably had similar provisions.

We had guys on active duty drawing O-3 pay, wearing Captain rank, that were O-3's in the AUS and either 1LT's or 2LT's in the RA or USAR. As I remember it your RA rank was considered permanent, AUS was regarded more as a temporary rank. I haven't thought about this in a long time, by the early to mid-80's all the AUS component was gone, I think.

I do recall a lot of non-citizen enlisted guys, but I thought citizenship was a given if they completed their initial enlistment and applied for it.

 

[phydaux]

My older Brother;


Link to medals;
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\John Volner, PFC, Army, Lexington TN, 17Feb67 15E055 - The Virtual Wall®.htm




VOLNER, JOHN DELANE
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
Date of Action: February 15 - 17, 1967
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Delane Volner, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Private First Class Volner distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 15 February 1967 to 17 February 1967 while serving as radio-telephone operator with an infantry unit during combat operations in Kontum Province. After learning that lead elements of his force were pinned down by intense cross fire from hostile emplacements, Private Volner unhesitatingly volunteered to move to their position to keep the company commander informed of developments in that sector. When these men were able to withdraw to higher ground, Private Volner received notice that another platoon was about to be overrun. Unflinching under the hail of fire that raked the area, he threaded his way into the pinned platoon. With a clearheaded account of enemy movements, he enabled the company commander to effectively maneuver his forces. On the evening of 17 February, Private Volner detected movement outside his unit's perimeter. His alertness prompted the company commander to call for artillery fire. While he was radioing information to the command post, Private Volner heard artillery rounds coming in on his own position. Heedless of his own safety, he grabbed a comrade moments before a round struck, pulled him to the bottom of the foxhole, and threw his own body on top of him to shield him from the blast. Private Volner was fatally wounded in this selfless and courageous sacrifice to save his comrade. Private First Class Volner's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1730 (April 15, 1967)
Home Town: Lexington, Tennessee

http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/07_RVN-dsc/dsc_07RVN-armyT.html

 

[Gator]

I am a veteran with a pretty skimpy "fruit salad", but if I had more I sure wouldn't advertise it. I don't even tell non-vets I was in the service unless they ask.

 

[Gunny45]

VETERANS - wear your awards!

Steve48,
You said "When you leave before the job is done, you are not proud of what you have done". You should be proud of what you did. You did what you were supposed to do as an American soldier! We (I am a Viet Nam veteran also) didn't make the decision to quit and come home. Damn, we were never given the opportunity to win!
It has taken me quite a few years (and counseling from time to time) to get over my guilt about serving in the Navy in the Tonkin Gulf during the Viet Nam war. I won't go into details of my service here, but you should never be ashamed of your service to your country - NEVER!.
On the subject of wearing our awards, the department of Veterans Affairs wants us to wear them on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the Fourth of July. See attached: http://www1.va.gov/opa/veteranspride/index.asp
I bought a miniature set to wear on my suit or sportcoat for these occasions and I will wear them proudly. God bless us all.
Tom
Attack Squadron 105 - The Gunslingers
U.S.S. Kitty Hawk '68

 

[Gunny45]

phydaux - stand tall

You can be proud!

 

[scout26]

The only time I wear mine is on my American Legion Uniform for Memorial Day, the 4th of July Parade, and Veterans Day.

 

[Dave88LX]

I'm not sure, it would just seem tacky for me to wear my medals/ribbons to non-military related events in plain clothes. Granted, I'm still Active Duty, so I only wear them in uniform anyways. I think I might wear them once or twice a year if that. I'm maintenance in the AF, so we're always in BDU's anyways.

 

[lance22]

I show mine ...

I've never been in the military, but I frequently show people my 1998 "Chili Judge" badge from when I judged a chili cook-off.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Not to be a dick to the OP, because he asks a good question...

but I have recently been reminded what a "pertinent subject is for these boards". How exactly is the gun related and not more suited for APS?

 

[Duckster]

RESTATING MY QUESTION

In England and Russia I see old guys wearing their medals proudly. Some of them fadded, but still with pride. I think the reason I or others don't wear our is because of the general public view of veterans and we don't want to be considered arrogant. I thought about wearing them to f riends wedding once, but my wife thought they were tacky. So I never even tried again. She and others don't understand. I'm no hero, but I thought it was a good question. I thought it had more to do with our Americas Attitude towards us whom served.