Just so's (sic) you know, I was checking out General Petraeus, he has never
been in combat, yet he has been awarded a Bronze Star with a "V" device. The "V"
device can only be awarded for instances of courage under fire, otherwise it is
awarded without the "V". He was however shot by his own man in a live fire
exercise at Ft. Campbell and operated on by Dr. Bill Frist in Tennessee.
The relevance here is regarding "Stolen Valor" and character implications. Much
ado was made regarding Kerry's decorations and I am not sure how the "Stolen
Valor Act of 2005" applies to active duty. The most common decoration for valor
in the Army is the Army commendation medal with "V" device, followed by the
Bronze Star with "V". Common definitely inferring the enlisted grades, the
Bronze W/V practically equaling the valor of officers with the Silver Star. It
is not unusal for an executive officer to write up his CO. I admit a certain
prejudice against general officers and have directly inquired of General Wesley
Clark regarding his Silver Star. It was an embarassing moment for both of us.
Why is it important to expose Petraeus? He is a wannabee and he is willing to
lie for ambitious reasons. He is indicative of the majority of the General
Officers Corps, petty and self absorbed
Bronze Star Medal
The medal may be awarded for Valor (i.e. courage under fire), in which case it is accompanied with an attached V or it may be awarded for Meritorious Achievement (i.e. doing one's job well) in which case the medal does not have a valor component and does not have an attached V denoting Valor. Most of the bronze stars awarded are for non valor and do not have the V device.
The medal is awarded to a member of the military who, while serving in or with the military of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished him or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed under circumstances described above, which are of lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star. Awards may also be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The required achievement or service while of lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.
To be eligible for the Bronze Star Medal, a military member must be receiving hostile fire/imminent danger pay during the event for which the medal is to be awarded.
Source: Wikipedia
From Army HRC (need AKO access)
Awards OIF Total
15 Mar 03 – 28 Feb 06
Medal of Honor
1
Distinguished Service Cross
2
Silver Star
195
Legion of Merit
22
Distinguished Flying Cross
37
Soldier's Medal
73
Meritorious Service Medal
6,956
Bronze Star Medal for Valor
1,039
Bronze Star Medal svc/ach
36,989
Purple Heart
11,734
Air Medal for Valor
391
Air Medal svc/ach
8,346
ARCOM for valor
2,784
ARCOM svc/ach
101,819
Army Achievement Medal
6,830
Combat Infantryman Badge
22,602
Combat Medical Badge
6,437
Combat Action Badge
14,858
Grand Total
221,115
OEF
5 Dec 01 – 28 Feb 06
Medal of Honor
0
0
0
Distinguished Service Cross
1
Silver Star
45
Legion of Merit
3
Distinguished Flying Cross
55
Soldier's Medal
16
Meritorious Service Medal
772
Bronze Star Medal for Valor
528
Bronze Star Medal svc/ach
10,327
Purple Heart
404
Air Medal for Valor
49
Air Medal sev/ach
2,776
ARCOM for valor
373
ARCOM svc/ach
16,604
Army Achievement Medal
1,782
Combat Infantryman Badge
9,537
Combat Action Badge
2,595
Total
47,609