"What Trump doesn’t understand about the Medal of Honor"

[Procrustes Stretched]

The courage on display at Pearl Harbor or in combat in Vietnam should never be forgotten or devalued. What Trump doesn’t understand about the Medal of Honor


It's amazing. The man cannot help himself. Trump doubles down as if an admission of an error is an assault on his Big Brain. He doubles down as if an an apology is an error is an assault on on his great genes. He doubles down as if being corrected is an attack on his genius intellect.


Letters to the Editor

Regarding the Aug. 16. online news article, “Trump draws intense criticism for calling civilian medal ‘much better’ than military award”:
Harold Bascom Durham Jr. received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions in Vietnam in 1967.

His unit was ambushed; he was severely wounded yet continued to use his radio handset to call in artillery. He used the stump of his wrist to operate the handset because his hand had been blown off. After the battle he was found dead, still gripping the handset.

Durham gave his life to save his fellow soldiers.

Miriam Adelson is a physician and philanthropist. But it seems likely that she received her Medal of Freedom primarily because she used her uninjured hand to write checks to her favorite political party.

There is a difference between the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding the Medal of Honor were a disgrace. Any attempt by his followers to explain or justify his remarks is equally disgraceful.

Donald Trump revealed something important about his worldview when he recently said the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “better” than the Medal of Honor, and elaborated: “It’s actually much better because everyone gets the Medal of Honor. They’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead.’’

Mr. Trump seems to take a dim view of the idea that a soldier, at great personal sacrifice, might perform an extraordinarily brave act to save other soldiers or civilians. Nor does he seem able to acknowledge that such bravery comes in service of our country’s national security interests and the defense of our democracy. As far as Mr. Trump appears to be concerned, the only important aspect of an admirable deed is the benefits derived by the person who performed that act. To him, it is “better” to win the Presidential Medal of Freedom because to do so a person does not have to sacrifice his physical — and probably emotional — well-being.

Self-sacrifice for others seems to be foolish, even abhorrent, to him. This is hardly the first time Mr. Trump has made this clear, including during a Memorial Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery in 2017, when, according tothen-Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, he told Mr. Kelly of service members who died in Afghanistan and Iraq: “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”

Mr. Trump desecrates and dishonors our democracy and cherished American values, especially bravery for love of country and brotherhood among comrades in war. As president, he would once again act only out of self-interest — not for the benefit of Americans, our country, our democracy or our national security interests.

He should not be elected president again. One egregious mistake is enough.

Americo A. Salini Jr., Andover, Mass.

 

[Lesh]

Trump is a disgrace… in general and particularly to the military

 

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Incredible.

Harold Bascom Durham Jr.​

 

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Paraphrasing that great MAGA patriot: "Presidential Medal of Freedom Equivalent to Congressional Medal of Honor Actually Much Better Because Recipients Not Dead or Hit By Bullets"

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, he said at an event at his golf club in New Jersey, is “the highest award you can get as a civilian. It’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, but civilian version.”

“It’s actually much better,” Trump continued, “because everyone [who] gets the Congressional Medal, they’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead.” A moment later, he declared that the two awards are “rated equal.”

It's simply amazing he can even be considered a candidate veterans would vote for. No one but Donald "I alone" Trump oudl say something like this and get away with it. Why? Because he's like the "liddle" spoiled child of a wealthy family, who is used to getting his own way and saying whatever the heck he feels like saying -- few to no consequences.
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Trump is a disgrace… in general and particularly to the military

Citation

2nd Lt. Durham, Artillery, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty while assigned to Battery C. 2nd Lt. Durham was serving as a forward observer with Company D, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry during a battalion reconnaissance-in-force mission. At approximately 1015 hours contact was made with an enemy force concealed in well-camouflaged positions and fortified bunkers. 2nd Lt. Durham immediately moved into an exposed position to adjust the supporting artillery fire onto the insurgents.

During a brief lull in the battle he administered emergency first aid to the wounded in spite of heavy enemy sniper fire directed toward him. Moments later, as enemy units assaulted friendly positions, he learned that Company A, bearing the brunt of the attack, had lost its forward observer.

While he was moving to replace the wounded observer, the enemy detonated a claymore mine, severely wounding him in the head and impairing his vision. In spite of the intense pain, he continued to direct the supporting artillery fire and to employ his individual weapon in support of the hard-pressed infantrymen. As the enemy pressed their attack, 2d Lt. Durham called for supporting fire to be placed almost directly on his position. Twice the insurgents were driven back, leaving many dead and wounded behind. 2nd Lt. Durham was then taken to a secondary defensive position.

Even in his extremely weakened condition, he continued to call artillery fire onto the enemy. He refused to seek cover and instead positioned himself in a small clearing which offered a better vantage point from which to adjust the fire. Suddenly, he was severely wounded a second time by enemy machine-gun fire. As he lay on the ground near death, he saw two Viet Cong approaching, shooting the defenseless wounded men.

With his last effort, 2d Lt. Durham shouted a warning to a nearby soldier who immediately killed the insurgents. 2nd Lt. Durham died moments later, still grasping the radio handset. 2nd Lt. Durham's gallant actions in close combat with an enemy force are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

 

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So this man Trump is going to speak at the National Guard Association of the United States conference in Detroit? I'd like to ask this National Guard Association "Do they like people who were captured?"

 

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and

Former White House national security adviser H.R. McMaster, a retired lieutenant general, said he cannot understand Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “hold” on his former boss Donald Trump.

McMaster made the assertion in his book and in an op-ed published Saturday in the Wall Street Journal. On Sunday, he reiterated that sentiment in a television appearance, noting that Trump believed he could strike a deal with Putin.

“He likes big, splashy deals,” he said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Trump “was pursuing that with Putin. He was pursuing that with [Chinese president] Xi Jinping.”

McMaster added that he felt that if he wrote about Putin’s “hold” on Trump in his book, “about how Putin was trying to press Donald Trump’s buttons,” it might make Trump less susceptible to the efforts if he is elected to a second term.

He also said that Trump, when dealing with policy, “carries with him these opposing ideas that sometimes he finds it difficult to reconcile.” He stressed the need for Trump to have a competent team.

He said that in his experience in working with Trump, “if you give him [the] best analysis, if you give him multiple options, it’s in the comparison of those options that he can consider the long-term costs and consequences and make sound decisions.”

 

[jotathought]

The courage on display at Pearl Harbor or in combat in Vietnam should never be forgotten or devalued. What Trump doesn’t understand about the Medal of Honor


It's amazing. The man cannot help himself. Trump doubles down as if an admission of an error is an assault on his Big Brain. He doubles down as if an an apology is an error is an assault on on his great genes. He doubles down as if being corrected is an attack on his genius intellect.

If Pearl Harbor or combat in Vietnam should never be forgotten, why don't most Gen Z and/or some of Gen Y not even know the significance of either? Ask today's college student the significance of great events like June 6, December 7 and the last Monday in May. Many in these same generations don't even know the meaning of July 4th or Memorial Day, and only see it as another day off to go to the beach, lake and watch fireworks.

 

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If Pearl Harbor or combat in Vietnam should never be forgotten, why don't most Gen Z and/or some of Gen Y not even know the significance of either? Ask today's college student the significance of great events like June 6, December 7 and the last Monday in May. Many in these same generations don't even know the meaning of July 4th or Memorial Day, and only see it as another day off to go to the beach, lake and watch fireworks.

Huh?

Do you even know who your President is?

Trump keeps complaining (whining really), that "They're picking on your President" when referring to himself.