July 2014 - Argghhh!

I remember back in the day, when periodically a commander would come along and declare that naming your gun/tank/APC was unprofessional and unworthy of "real" soldiers. Then there were the ones who were all, "Well, okay, you can name them, but nothing violent or which might offend Ms. Agnes McGillicuddy, of Hamburg, IA, because she writes letters and I get bitched at." Of course, back in that day, most commanders I recall wouldn't have a clue who Cthulhu was... so they would...

Because you know someone, somewhere, will be offended by this.

Today we open with period of Indian Campaigns. As is usual for the Indian Campaigns - if a fight generated one Medal, it tended to generate several, indicative of the lack of options for recognizing heroic conduct during the era. Battle of the Big Dry Wash , Arizona, is one of those fights. CRUSE, THOMAS Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Big Dry Fork, Ariz., 17 July 1882. Entered service at: Owensboro, Ky. Birth: Owensboro, Ky. Date of issue: 12 July 1892...

Per usual, we open with the Civil War - 10 Medals for Bull Run and one for the Atlanta Campaign. AMES, ADELBERT Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: Rockland, Maine. Birth: East Thomaston, Maine. Date of issue: 22 June 1894. Citation: remained upon the field in command of a section of Griffin's Battery, directing its fire after being severely wounded and refusing to leave the field until too weak to sit...

Still seems like a special breed of dumbass, however. He wasn't cheap to train, and that aircraft ain't cheap, either. And no, that's not a guy who is about to belly in because his gear isn't working, or he somehow forgot to lower 'em. He did this on purpose , with malice aforethought.

While they are all important, some Holders resonate beyond their eras and their Medals. Whether by personal character or subsequent events in their lives, their impact is felt beyond the event, and that's usually only for those who survive the action that earns them the Medal. Today we have a posthumous WWII Holder who's fame has lasted many many years beyond our current time. In literature, anyway. "On the bounce, troopers!" The first Medal awarded for this day was awarded for...

Now, of course, I wonder who is working the parallel countermeasure development? Besides our enemies? Because once someone knows it can be done, they'll start trying to do it. FIRST EVER Guided .50 Cal Bullet