Why don't we wear our medals?

[DWARREN123]

The people who know what the medals/ribbons mean don't need to see them and the ones who don't know what they mean wouldn't understand.

 

[crashresidue]

WOW - this one is almost too painful to get involved with!

I wear my Cav patch emblem on my hat - I flew with other units, but this one is recognized.

I also wear one of my fathers epilet "wings and prop" on the hat also - he was Army Air Corps - before the USAF was formed.

I quit taking medals after my DFC was given to a commisioned officer( my co-plot) - because he "needed it" to make his next rank, and since I was "just" a Warrent - it wasn't "important" to my career.

Since a "Silver Star", with "V" was awarded to J. Kerry - I don't want anything to do with them!!!

"Yep, that's a Cav patch" - ya got a problem with it? Yea? Well, ya want to fight, f*ck, or dance? Talk fast - I've got other things to do!

cr

 

[JShirley]

I'm not real eager to wear my ribbons and such.
For one thing, they're a pain to put on, if I can even find my dress greens.
For another, they'll give out an award, pin, or ribbon for any damn thing, like serving, serving during a war, etc.
If I ever do anything that merits a medal I'll be proud to own, I won't tell anyone, because I'm sure I'll just have done my job well when needed. I'll be proud to have "done good"; the award just recognizes that.

John

 

[tegemu]

A related issue = The secretaries of all the services have authorized Veterans to render the hand salute instead of the hand over the heart at appropriate occasions, passing of colors, National Anthem etc. This will provide distinction and definition of veterans and be a point of pride for those of us who have served.

 

[ID_shooting]

On those rare occasions I have to dress suit and tie, I will wear a small Big Red One lapel pin. Daily a keep a 2nd. Brigade, Big Red One challenge coin that was handed to me by the Bde Cdr back in 93 or 94 on my key ring. As for my "salad" or medals? I used to wear them on Nov 11th but kinda felt "funky" about it so I stopped. A few years back I was cleaning out some stuff and found an old BDU blouse that still has my tapes, rank, and unit patches. I just wear that as a jacket on Nov 11th now, although it shrunk a bit while in storage. I do have Veteran plates on both our vehicles and am authorized to have "Gulf War" tags but I choose not to display them.

The only frivilous thing I do is show my VA ID card (service connected disablility) at places I know give military discounts.

 

[ID_shooting]

Second note: Comments like "The secretaries of all the services have authorized..." and "By Army regulation medals can be worn..."

Please post a cite for these. I am not challenging the comments but rather would like to know what is kosher and what isn't.

 

[aryfrosty]

Wear 'em?

On the last Veteran's Day the VA Secretary publicly encouraged vets to wear their medals and ribbons. I didn't, for like some of the folks here I was a little bashful about them. I sat down and talked with my youngest, who is a United States Marine, and he said he would be grateful if I wore them,,,at least on special occasions. I got mine out and cleaned them up. Had to go online and buy a couple, like the Armed Forces Expeditionary, which had been handled so much by me that they weren't squared away. The first time I wore them was at a funeral for a Vet who died abandoned by his family. Also at his interrment in the Vet's Cemetery here in New Hampshire. I wore them then feeling I had a purpose, which was honoring a fallen brother. When I got to the service I saw other graybeards like me wearing theirs and I realized that I will wear mine now any dadgoned time I feel the spirit move me. I earned them...even if almost all are just "I was there" decorations. I'm proud of what I did. I'm proud of where I went. I'm proud of what every one of us did. And since I'm not a "professional vet" I don't need or want anybody's OK to wear them. Semper Fi.

 

[DesertShooter]

I will NEVER wear my military awards/medals on "civilian" clothing! I even had a tough time deciding whether to wear them on my police uniform during formal inspections, since it's not a MILITARY uniform. After seeing other veterans that were police officers wearing them, I decided that it would show my pride for having been in the military. They came off after each formal inspection.

Besides, do you know how easy it is to merely BUY military awards/ribbons/medals? Many years ago, I lost my jump wings, but I was able to buy a replacement at a PAWN SHOP....no questions asked!
There are also mail order businesses that sell them to "whoever", and I'll bet that you can do the same thing on the internet!

If I'm not mistaken, the CMH cannot be sold nor worn by anyone other than the actual recipient. In the movie "Heartbreak Ridge", Gunny Highway (Clint Eastwood) was "supposedly" a CMH recipient, but if I recall correctly, he was NOT allowed to wear such an award in the movie.

 

[aryfrosty]

Each of us sets his own standards. I spent over 30 years in a patrol car and after retiring I have been a communications supervisor at the Dept of Safety for 7 years.

 

[BobCav]

I found nothing official to cite on Veterans or Retirees saluting, but here's what I did find:

Letter from Major General Vernon B. Lewis, USA (Ret):
http://www.marine969.com/Veterans Rendering a Hand Salute.pdf

Saluting is always a sign of respect and like I used to tell my troops, "When in doubt...SALUTE!"

If I'm covered, I'm saluting until the day I die. And when my arm no longer works, I hope someone will hold it up for me.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Even though I retired from the Army I am on retainer pay just like a lawyer. It is my right to salute and I will. If I go to prison or choose another nationality like Australia The U.S. Government cannot use my services any longer. My retainer pay (retirement) stops cold.
I will not wear a U.S. Army retired Hat nor will I have a sticker on the back of any of my vehicles, I have my personal reasons. I told myself I wil not advertise my being retired like so many others and one reason being is I don't want to be identified as a military retiree to the civilian world.

 

[spaceCADETzoom]

AS many have noted, I think its a modesty thing...and a cultural thing. We don't like arrogant pricks. I like the fact we don't parade around like "MExican Generals" in mirrored sunglasses, funny moustaches, cords we don't know the significance of, a rainbow of medals on the chest. Part of the service, even to the specific ones holding appointed office, is knowing that at the end of the day we serve the people of the US. THis isn't some banana republic or African state where there are corrupt Colonels with haciendas and bodyguards...

There's a line between <boasting> and being moedestly proud... where? I dunno.

IT just doesn't seem worth wearing on the day-to-day...I mean, whY? It's like what someone posted above...most don;t want to talk about the action that merited it, so why flaunt it and invite the questions about it?

End of the day, diffrent strokes... I'm sure there are some that love telling others about their merits.

 

[TnRebel]

WELCOME HOME ===Gunny45, Steve 48 and tmccray45 and any other Viet-Vets and always remember we are Brothers that will always be bonded and I know we all feel the same , but always be proud, we did what we were ordered to do remember " Some Gave Some - Some Gave All " If you and ANY Vet get down to Florida in April on the 27th,28th and the 29th we have the 2nd largest Vietnam Veterans Reunion , But last year we changed it to ALL Veterans Reunion. here is the link

http://members.aol.com/FLVietVets/reunion.html

 

[Dorryn]

The reason I dont wear my medals is because (1) I dont want to be seen as an arrogant jerk, (2) there are a lot of veterans who have done more, seen more, helped more, and suffered much more than I ever did, and (3) its just not done by any of my fellow Marines.

 

[madmike]

Most civvies won't recognize them. Some will call it "grandstanding" or "Ramboing" or such.

Most vets won't care about the medal per se. The few who do will either think you're showing off or try to outdo you (because not all vets have the humility and wisdom we'd like).

And I don't feel my contributions have really been that impressive. It's a team effort.

I get together regularly with entire platoons of other vets. Our medals and exploits are rarely the subject. It's how brave or competent someone ELSE was, and how much beer we drank, or how we found a pizza shop in Suwon, or "borrowed" a Jeep in Kaiserslatern.

I've got around 20 awards and decorations...I think. Only two really matter, and there are people far more deserving of recognition.

 

[madmike]

Just for the record your still subject to UCMJ if you are retired as long as your collecting a check.

Cite, please?

This does not match my knowledge of it.

Retired Reserve are subject to CERTAIN PARTS of the UCMJ, as are Active Reserve, Nat Guard and Inactive Reserve even when not on duty, but most of it goes away once you're off duty (forex, if I work with the captain during the week and he screws up at work, he's not a "sir" and I have no need to maintain a military bearing, nor can he do jack if I light a verbal fire under him), and once retired and off the books, you're free.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

From the UCMJ, Article 2:

802. ART. 2. PERSONS SUBJECT TO THIS CHAPTER
(a) The following persons are subject to this chapter:
(1) Members of a regular component of the armed forces, including those awaiting discharge after expiration of their terms of enlistment; volunteers from the time of their muster or acceptance into the armed forces; inductees from the time of their actual induction into the armed forces; and other persons lawfully called or ordered into, or to duty in or for training in the armed forces, from the dates when they are required by the terms of the call or order to obey it.
(2) Cadets, aviation cadets, and midshipman.
(3) Members of a reserve component while on inactive-duty training, but in the case of members of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States only when in Federal Service.
(4) Retired members of a regular component of the armed forces who are entitled to pay.
(5) Retired members of a reserve component who are receiving hospitalization from an armed force.
(6) Members of the Fleet Reserve and Fleet Marine Corps Reserve.
(7) Persons in custody of the armed forces serving a sentence imposed by a court-martial.
(8) Members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public Health Service, and other organizations, when assigned to and serving with the armed forces.
(9) Prisoners of war in custody of the armed forces.
(10) In time of war, persons serving with or accompanying an armed force in the field. (. . . continues)

Note the bolded areas -- members of the National Guard are not routinely subject to the UCMJ -- except when in Federal Service. Retired members of a regular component are subject -- for life.

 

[aryfrosty]

As I spoke earlier...I have no problem with anyone wearing what they are entitled to. And if I can demonstrate pride in my country by displaying I will continue to do so. I was in no special time or place...I was an aircraft support equipment electrician on an aircraft carrier. But every effort by every member of the United States military contributed toward the goals set for us. I'm not ashamed of what I did.

 

[BobCav]

Vern, it's not enforceable on retirees unless they bring a GREAT discredit on the service in the comission of their crimes. I had our Naval District Washington JAG tell me that when were discussing it just before retiring, and it's common knowledge throughout the Navy legal circles. They couldn't possibly enforce every violation of the UCMJ on all retirees. Look at DUI's alone! Since that's punishable under the UCMJ, there would be more retirees convicted and eligible for discipline under the UCMJ that there in in all the active services combined. Who's going to pay for that? The Services? Nope. No budget for that. It's more of a hollow threat to keep us in line more than anything else.

Besides, we're more likely law-abiding than the average citizen anyway. Every lawyer knows the UCMJ is so defunct and aged that it's laughable anymore. It needs a MAJOR update.

I have copies of the ACTUAL DOD instructions that retirees ARE subject to upstairs. I'll dig them out and scan them later and post for all to see.

 

[davhina]

My older Brother;

I have no words for that story, except maybe MOH onstead of DSC?
I bet you are proud of your brother...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Vern, it's not enforceable on retirees unless they bring a GREAT discredit on the service in the comission of their crimes. I had our Naval District Washington JAG tell me that when were discussing it just before retiring, and it's common knowledge throughout the Navy legal circles.

Policy is one thing, law is another. The issue is not will they prosecute retirees, but can they. They can.

 

[.45Guy]

Alot of the older persons at the legion hall, or my VFF post wear the miniature medals at formal ocassions. I just never saw the point for myself. To each their own.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have several friends who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. I once made the mistake of referring to one of them as a hero. He said, "Vern, we both know all the heroes are dead."

I feel this way, if you were there with me, you know all about what happened. If you weren't, you probably don't care. So why advertise?

 

[madmike]

Retired members of a regular component of the armed forces who are entitled to pay.

Vern, there is a difference between "retired reserve" and "Retired."

RR can be recalled, and get COLA pay raises based on their rank.

Actual retirees do not.

"Entitled to pay" refers to MILITARY pay, not pension.

RR is a good idea, because you do get those regular pay raises until age 60, and they almost never call RR back (Can't recall anytime they have. They sometimes ask for volunteers.)

Just as when you're IRR if you finish your first tour and get out, you're still subject to parts of it until you finish the 8 year commitment.

 

[.45Guy]

Vern, I don't think anyone could have said it any better. But I don't think advertising has anything to do with a bunch of old codgers getting together at the hall and knocking a few back.