FlyJSH

I, sitting in an airconditioned box miles behind the line (it was for the radios, not for me), should rate a medal equal to those who went in harms way???

I, as a SIGINT annalist, was instrumental in giving information to the folks on the front line. When I failed, guys I never knew died. When I gave good information, fewer people died, and more of our people came home.

I DO NOT want a combat medal. I DO NOT want to be recognized. Yes, I did my part. But I NEVER went in harms way.

Give me an ataboy for doing my job well, but I NEVER want to get an award equal to those who were on the front lines.





I took our failures very personally: families of those we gave incorrect information to, many of them died.

I did my best. But for me, my best will never be good enough. There were many times I gave good information, and many of my comrades lived. But there were times I, and my comrades, screwed up (we gave bad information) and people died. We failed. I go home wishing I had done better, and others went home in body bags.

Those who are on the front line should ALWAYS get the awards. They are the folks who risk leaving a family without a patriarch. They are the folks who will never come home.




On Veteran's Day or Memorial Day, I am one of the veterans who seeks no adoration. Yeah, I did my job and I helped, but I never went in harm's way. Give the awards to those who do. They are the ones who deserve it.