The+Rough+Draft



Colby Casper Chris Tomlinson Honors English Tag 1 28 April 2009 Informational Paper on Congressional Medal of Honor The nation’s highest honor is the Congressional Medal of Honor. Not many people receive this award for it takes intense love for your country to earn it. People who earn the medal of honor deserve to be respected because they risk life of their own accord and most people die before earning this award. A lot of people do not know the criteria for the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor, established by joint resolution of Congress, July 12, 1862, (amended by Act of July 9, 1918, and Act of July 25, 1963) is awarded in the name of Congress to a person, who, while a member of the armed forces, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any 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. ("Congressional Medal of Honor") These standards are very hard to meet and exceptionally dangerous. If a person’s unit was ambushed and they were all thought dead but one of them survived and provided medical attention to the rest they would not receive the Medal of Honor because they did not actually engage the enemy. Very few people have received the Medal of Honor during the war in Iraq. After five years of war, just two medals have been handed out and a third is awaiting approval of President George W. Bush. Pentagon officials say the lack of awards and length of time to hand them out is due the fact that much of the military duties in Iraq are about rebuilding rather than fighting (Ephron). Even if you do receive this award, you will most likely die. Every 3 out of 4 people who do earn the Medal of Honor die in combat. According to Claudia Montanna “There are only 99 living recipients of the Medal of Honor” (Montanna). In an article by Austin Bogues “President Bush awarded the military's highest honor posthumously on Monday to a 19-year-old soldier who was killed in Iraq after falling on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers” (Bogues). These numbers and facts are not very appealing to the ear, but these people give their lives to protect their country that they loved. People think of these people as heroes. In a blog exert Adam Resh said “ They are in a way “jumping on the grenade” for us by going to war for us and leaving their lives behind so we can live ours while they take care of business. So I would say, although they don’t consider themselves heroes, people back here do” (Resh). The U.S. need to honor these modern day heroes who have given all that they have to give and most of them their lives. The soldiers were not asked by anybody to go out and risk their lives for their family, their country, or us. These people volunteered to join the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the National Guard, or any other organization that fight to keep this country safe and free. They volunteered to risk their lives for the good of this country and their families. All these people have protected this country and kept the freedom of this country. The previous facts have told a person about what it takes to earn the Medal of Honor, your chance of surviving and earning this award, and why we need to honor these people. The Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded for gallantry and valiant efforts while fighting this nation's enemy. Not many people who earn this honor survive. Nevertheless, people thank every single one of them who has earned it and protected this country.