Naval News Service on Military.com wrote:
Bronze Star Awarded to Four Pacific Submarine Commanders
Navy News Service
October 23, 2003
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Four Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine skippers received Bronze Stars for their courageous leadership during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cmdr. Michael Jabaley, USS Louisville (SSN 724); Cmdr. Charles Merkel, formerly USS Key West (SSN 722); Cmdr. Duane Ashton, USS Columbia (SSN 771); and Cmdr. Charles Doty, USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), were awarded the medals by their respective commodores.
These four ships patrolled the 5th Fleet area of operations and performed Tomahawk strikes in support of the global war on terrorism.
All four commanders credited their crews for the success of all missions.
"The entire crew earned this award. The hard work of all 150 men resulted in the ship's success throughout the deployment. I'm honored to accept it on their behalf," said Jabaley.
Ashton concurs with that sentinent. "The Columbia Warriors are Americans who stepped up to the plate and accomplished amazing things, making their achievements look routine as result of their training, commitment and professionalism," he said.
Cheyenne was the first U.S. warship to launch Tomahawks during the initial strike March 19. Doty expressed his crew's dedication and determination.
"I am truly honored to receive the Bronze Star. It really belongs to the crew. They showed extraordinary effort and never faltered," Doty concluded.
Merkel has the unique distinction of being the only submarine commander who has led his crew into back-to-back combat deployments since World War II.
"It was an honor and privilege to have commanded USS Key West during such a challenging time in our nation's history. I will be forever proud of my crew's performance. My crew was absolutely the key to my success," Merkel said.
The Bronze Star Medal, which was authorized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Feb. 4, 1944, is awarded to members of all branches of military service and may be awarded either for combat heroism or for meritorious service.
Key West, Louisville and Columbia are attack submarines belonging to Submarine Squadron 3. Cheyenne belongs to Submarine Squadron 7.
Any idea what they exactly did to warrant a Bronze Star? I suppose it could be for meritorious service but I'm wondering if there wasn't an awards quota and the Navy was having a hard time matching up with the Army and Marines since they had been in dangerous areas much less than those services.
The quota could be within the Navy itself. Other than Naval pilots there aren't many times that USN (surface or subsurface ships) goes into harm's way and that would mean that all the flyboys are gobbling up all the awards, which do help towards promotions.
By the pricking of my thumb,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks.
Tsyroc wrote:
Any idea what they exactly did to warrant a Bronze Star?
Medal inflation. seriously, they need to modify perhaps the Operation
Iraqi Freedom medals that will be struck with "M" for meritous service
for those who served on teh ships and such, and the rear echelon
guys who drove around in convoys keeping our troops supplied.
Leave the Bronze Star for OH MY GOD actions.
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
Tsyroc wrote:
Any idea what they exactly did to warrant a Bronze Star?
Medal inflation. seriously, they need to modify perhaps the Operation
Iraqi Freedom medals that will be struck with "M" for meritous service
for those who served on teh ships and such, and the rear echelon
guys who drove around in convoys keeping our troops supplied.
Leave the Bronze Star for OH MY GOD actions.
Agreed. All too often in my time in the Corps did I see pencil pushers getting Navy Achievement Medals for keeping their files filed and pencils sharp. One time I was embarrassed to even stand in the formation as this guy got his NAM and the warrant was read aloud and said "for outstanding service to the Marine Corps, Lance Corporal Buckethead in cooperation with motor pool repaired the security van rear door ensuring the safety of the Marines on duty....." ok now first of all the security van was an old bread van that we used, and the back doors were always breaking so that they would not shut properly which could be dangerous if you weren't careful. This jerkoff welded a small part onto the door that fixed the problem.... for two weeks before it broke again. Nothing worthwhile was really done, nothing permanent that's for sure.
As opposed to someone who earns that medal for doing something worthwhile, it certainly cheapens the recognition they should recieve.
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Death from the Sea wrote:
As opposed to someone who earns that medal for doing something worthwhile, it certainly cheapens the recognition they should recieve.
I'm not opposed to Attaboy medals, but they need to make it a specific
medal, and a specific medal alone that everyone knows is worthless.
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
MKSheppard wrote:
I'm not opposed to Attaboy medals, but they need to make it a specific
medal, and a specific medal alone that everyone knows is worthless.
Perhaps something like uhm, the Good Conduct Medal could be modified
with a device to be a stand in for all those "attaboy medals" that get thrown out
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
"for outstanding service to the Marine Corps, Lance Corporal Buckethead in cooperation with motor pool repaired the security van rear door ensuring the safety of the Marines on duty....."
LMAO
Busily picking nuggets out of my well-greased ass.
MKSheppard wrote:
I'm not opposed to Attaboy medals, but they need to make it a specific
medal, and a specific medal alone that everyone knows is worthless.
That would be the Navy Achievement Medal, I got one that essentially works out to the same dumb reason mentioned above, ie doing my job. It was basically a fancier version of a Letter of Commendation from an Admiral in that it was something I could wear on my uniform and it gave me points that factored into my next promotion multiple.
There's a different medal that is higher ranking that they usually gave to officers. I think all the CO's of my ships got it when they transfered off.
In this case I'd be embarassed to be wearing a bronze star for "meritorious service" and that's only having a vague idea what my grandfather did to get awarded his in WWII (he was also awarded the Silver Star). It would essentially devalue what he did and he was shot and nearly lost his feet to frost bite. Meanwhile, on the good ship lollypop I kept my ship in fine working order with little or no thread to myself.
By the pricking of my thumb,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks.
I had recevied awards in when I was in the Army that would not have been handed out unless you were under fire or something similar.
And yes, it does reduce the 'value' of the award when its given.
And as mentioned earlier, a somewhat worthless medal for this kind of thing would be better than giving out the better medals like candy.
Uraniun235 wrote:Isn't there a Silver and Gold Star? What's required to get those?
No Gold Star (though that would be very funny, but I digress). The Silver Star is the third highest award for valor in combat. The nearest thing to a "Gold Star" would be the Distinguished Service Cross for Army, Navy Cross for Navy/Marines, and Air Force Cross for, you guessed it, Air Force.
"How can I wait unknowing?
This is the price of war,
We rise with noble intentions,
And we risk all that is pure..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, Forever (Rome: Total War)
"On and on, through the years,
The war continues on..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, We Are All One (Medieval 2: Total War)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
phongn wrote:The Bronze Star is given out pretty often these days - but not with the "V" for valor on it. That decoration is (AFAIK) much harder to get.
Indeed it is. But the medal and others is being overused, and all sorts of unnecessary ribbons and medals are being created. I mean, do we really need to issue a "Cold War Service" medal to tens of millions of men and women?
"This cult of special forces is as sensible as to form a Royal Corps of Tree Climbers and say that no soldier who does not wear its green hat with a bunch of oak leaves stuck in it should be expected to climb a tree"
— Field Marshal William Slim 1956
phongn wrote:The Bronze Star is given out pretty often these days - but not with the "V" for valor on it. That decoration is (AFAIK) much harder to get.
Indeed it is. But the medal and others is being overused, and all sorts of unnecessary ribbons and medals are being created. I mean, do we really need to issue a "Cold War Service" medal to tens of millions of men and women?
Last I heard, that was just a commemoration thing, and wasn't authorized for wear on active duty uniforms. So it's more of a "we felt like doing it" thing than something you're really going to be issued.
"How can I wait unknowing?
This is the price of war,
We rise with noble intentions,
And we risk all that is pure..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, Forever (Rome: Total War)
"On and on, through the years,
The war continues on..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, We Are All One (Medieval 2: Total War)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
Wicked Pilot wrote:My first day on active duty I had two ribbons. One for training, and one for watching CNN.
You got to be shitting me (CNN)
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
I'm not actually in the Armed Forces, but I felt kinda annoyed at a communist ranting and raving in Philadelphia today, so I think I warrant some sort of award.
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HemlockGrey wrote:I'm not actually in the Armed Forces, but I felt kinda annoyed at a communist ranting and raving in Philadelphia today, so I think I warrant some sort of award.
A French Field Marshal in the making..
"This cult of special forces is as sensible as to form a Royal Corps of Tree Climbers and say that no soldier who does not wear its green hat with a bunch of oak leaves stuck in it should be expected to climb a tree"
— Field Marshal William Slim 1956
HemlockGrey wrote:I'm not actually in the Armed Forces, but I felt kinda annoyed at a communist ranting and raving in Philadelphia today, so I think I warrant some sort of award.
I'm not even American, but I laughed at some Marxist pamflet a few months ago. Where's my CMOH?
"You know, I was God once."
"Yes, I saw. You were doing well, until everyone died."
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Grand Admiral Thrawn wrote:
I'm not even American, but I laughed at some Marxist pamflet a few months ago. Where's my CMOH?
*slaps GAT*
Don't you mean Victoria Cross, you furriner!
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
Tsyroc wrote:
Any idea what they exactly did to warrant a Bronze Star? .
Hell, My CO got his last week...
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
Tsyroc wrote:At least we know why your CO got his.
I think it had something to do with keeping you at Corry Station for the ship's entire deployment.
Either that or putting him on mess detail when he got back.
Or maybe both.
"How can I wait unknowing?
This is the price of war,
We rise with noble intentions,
And we risk all that is pure..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, Forever (Rome: Total War)
"On and on, through the years,
The war continues on..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, We Are All One (Medieval 2: Total War)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
