Ya Know... I'm Re-Thinking My Views On A Military Draft... And I Want A Lottery... Like Vietnam...

[MADem]

51. What do you mean, RIBBONS?

You might want to learn the full story before you say such intemperate things.

You might not realize this, but when a flag officer makes two stars, he gets a mess management specialist who manages his mess and wardrobe. The MS is tasked with, among other things, making sure the principal's ribbon rack is squared away.

A couple of "V" pins were attached to his rack for awards he received while serving off the coast of Vietnam. Apparently, the vessel wasn't close enough to be termed in a combat area. When he was challenged about it, he had his staff review his record, they determined the challenge was valid, and he took the stupid V's off. That NAM was his LOWEST personal award--it's not like you'd even see the thing if he was only wearing his top three (as many people did day to day).

Now--you want to talk about "serious crimes?" Look up how many awards HACKWORTH wore--that HE DID NOT EARN.

He hounded Boorda, who had undiagnosed and untreated mental issues. He called him and threatened him. He refused to take any explanation.

I hold Hackworth personally responsible for Boorda's death. I think it's curious justice that the finger pointer (about a fucking V on an earned medal) had so many big lies in his service record, himself. He was an asshole.

Boorda was a good man who gave a shit about rank-and-file Sailors. He could be difficult at times and was murder on his staff, but his heart was in the right place. He committed no "serious crime" and anyone who suggests that needs to re-prioritize. All "awards" are is a substitute for pay raises--little pieces of pretty cloth, stars on your spelling test, that at the end of the day, mean very little. They don't heat your house or feed your kids--and in a lot of cases, depending on how "close to the throne" you get, they are easily had. It's not an accident that people who spend a lot of time of flag or general staff are dripping in them--that's where they're approved.

But hey, let he who is without sin cast the first stone--and one asshole with plenty of "sin" was that scolder, Hackworth, who wore awards to which HE was NOT ENTITLED:

http://www.cnn.com/US/9705/16/hackworth/

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1997-05-17/news/9705161572_1_hackworth-distinguished-flying-cross-medals

And at the end of the day, Admiral Zumwalt, who was the senior Naval officer on active duty--and the boss of the whole lalapalooza--at the time Boorda won those awards, said that Boorda may have had a point:

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/25/us/admiral-a-suicide-wins-some-vindication-on-combat-awards.html

Mr. Dalton's memorandum also noted the views of Admiral Zumwalt, who commanded naval forces in the Vietnam War and served as Chief of Naval Operations from 1970 to 1974. At the time of the suicide, Admiral Zumwalt said he believed Admiral Boorda deserved the combat decorations, but he put his views in another memorandum, dated May 18, that Mr. Dalton also included in the official record.

...In his memorandum, Admiral Zumwalt said Admiral Boorda's citations noted combat service. He also said that as Chief of Naval Operations during the war he personally told officers and sailors that they were authorized to wear the combat decoration on any medal received ''for duty in the combat theater of Vietnam.''