# Is it possible to go through military service and be honorably discharged without being "decorated"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525 "2010-06-25T20:34:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/21 "2010-06-26T23:11:03Z")
Were there two year terms of service back then? Didn’t they have some kind of generic Good Conduct medal, or like, something for having regular bowel movements? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/22 "2010-06-26T23:53:29Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Were there two year terms of service back then? Didn’t they have some kind of generic Good Conduct medal, or like, something for having regular bowel movements? It’s a four-year award, but if someone was given an administrative discharge after one or two years, or a medical for some reason, it would still be an honorable discharge. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/23 "2010-06-27T00:05:48Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Were there two year terms of service back then? Didn’t they have some kind of generic Good Conduct medal, or like, something for having regular bowel movements? Heh, you reminded me of a retort from the movie _The Last Remake of Beau Geste_ “I don’t want a medal, medals are like hemorrhoids, sooner or later every asshole gets one.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/24 "2010-06-27T03:20:47Z")
While my individual awards are pretty modest, I have picked up some higher ranking unit awards. I’m proud of them - I worked with some really good people in my short enlistment and it was actually recognized. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/25 "2010-07-06T22:54:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Not possible. At the very least, he would have had the National Defense Medal just for serving during a time of conflict (Vietnam). He may have had more; I’m just saying that I only remember one ribbon on his dress uniform in the closet; the maroon and white Good Conduct Medal. Knowing him, he probably wasn’t real keen on wearing medals he didn’t do anything for, especially since he spent his entire enlistment stateside in San Antonio and a few months in Colorado Springs. But yeah, there are quite a few medals that people are awarded that don’t really signify much. Of the 10 or so medals that my grandfather had, only 2 were really something he did anything for- his DFC and his Air Medal w/several sets of oak leaf clusters. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/26 "2010-07-06T23:12:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Well. . .no. If somebody joined the Navy in, say, 1956 and got out two years later, he could possibly have nothing to show on his chest. No military campaigns during that time, and the Sea Service Ribbon was not created until 1981. That’s what I was thinking… There are a lot of medals that are awarded for serving in a particular area or timeframe, and most people probably did serve in one of those places or times (especially since the military expands in time of war), but there have still been a few quiet times and places. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/27 "2010-07-06T23:43:08Z")
My father had 2 Purple Hearts in Vietnam and said he’s never understood why anyone brags about them. I believe his exact words were “Anyone can get shot.” (I’m a little more impressed than him - taking a bullet for your country is more than I’ve ever done) He did get a Bronze Star and Oak Leaf cluster, and based on his stories of how he got them, I’d count anyone with one as ‘decorated.’ ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/28 "2010-07-07T02:56:48Z")
I’ve got three Army Commendation Medals, the GWOT Expiditionary Medal, the GWOT Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon and Army Service Ribbon. I am extremely far from ‘decorated.’. I would consider Bronze Star as an absolute minimum for use of the term, and usually with something else along with it. My stuff is for general good service in the Army with one of my ARCOMs coming from my OIF deployment. Nothing especially great, and pretty standard for a good soldier nowadays (though I lucked out with only one combat deployment.) ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/29 "2010-07-07T04:30:39Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > He did get a Bronze Star and Oak Leaf cluster, and based on his stories of how he got them, I’d count anyone with one as ‘decorated.’ As has been alluded to above, some medals have more cachet than others, and a bronze star certainly qualifies in that regard. Me, I got a National Defense Medal\* for joining when we were mad at somebody, a Good Conduct Medal for not fucking up, and an Expert Pistol Marksman Medal. The last is at the absolute bottom in order of precedence – the Expert _Rifle_ Marksman is the next one up – but I was proudest of it 'cause I earned it. I wouldn’t dream of equating it with a valor medal, though. \*Known in Navalese as the Gedunk Medal – Gedunk in turn meaning “junk.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/30 "2010-07-07T14:40:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That’s what I was thinking… There are a lot of medals that are awarded for serving in a particular area or timeframe, and most people probably did serve in one of those places or times (especially since the military expands in time of war), but there have still been a few quiet times and places. My brother joined the Army with two weeks left of the official Korea campaign period and received a National Defense Medal. He thinks it very amusing, as he never left Alaska except for basic training. All the recent threads on military stuff has prompted me to dig out my dress blues with all the pretty gold stripes and rows of ribbons and send it, my cruise books, and my unit plaques to my kids to fight over. Gets it all out of my basement and into theirs, and good riddance. Came across my original seabag from 1967, with the company number and service number still visible. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/31 "2010-07-07T21:19:52Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Not possible. At the very least, he would have had the National Defense Medal just for serving during a time of conflict (Vietnam). I have heard of scenarios where, due to some clerical oversight, a medal or award isn’t entered into [insert some poor schlub’s name] “jacket”. If it aint listed in your records, you don’t have it. If you served during a time or place that earned some campaign medal, you will have to write a letter and petition for the award to be (correctly) added to your service record. Sometimes it’s painless, sometimes not, but I imagine it’s always slow. Example: I got out of the Navy right after a westpac. If some medal (say the Armed Forces Expiditionary Medal) were awarded for that cruise, it would have been announced after I seperated, and I might never know that I should have that medal, assuming I didn’t stay in touch with old shipmates. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/32 "2010-07-07T22:39:28Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > I have heard of scenarios where, due to some clerical oversight, a medal or award isn’t entered into [insert some poor schlub’s name] “jacket”. > > If it aint listed in your records, you don’t have it. > > If you served during a time or place that earned some campaign medal, you will have to write a letter and petition for the award to be (correctly) added to your service record. Sometimes it’s painless, sometimes not, but I imagine it’s always slow. > > Example: I got out of the Navy right after a westpac. If some medal (say the Armed Forces Expiditionary Medal) were awarded for that cruise, it would have been announced after I seperated, and I might never know that I should have that medal, assuming I didn’t stay in touch with old shipmates. Yeah, I suppose there is an exception for everything. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/33 "2010-07-08T07:51:53Z")
> [@bump](#): > > It used to be absolutely possible. My old man was in the Air Force from 1969-1973, and while he did rather well promotion wise (E5, passed for E6, inside of 4 yrs), but his uniform only had the Good Conduct Medal. > > When I asked him how he got that one, he said “I didn’t kill anyone.” I know your father had more than that. He at least had the National Defense Service Medal which meant that he served during time of war. He may have had others. The GCM was the only one that he chose to wear. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/34 "2010-07-08T08:00:38Z")
The OP mentions his sister was in the Air Force thirty years ago. I was in the Coast Guard at the same time and while we thought the USAF was the best of the other four services, we used to make jokes on how they got a medal for cleaning their plate after every meal. I certainly was not highly decorated myself, just got things like “good conduct”, isolated duty, a couple ribbons for unit commendation. There are “ribbons” and there are “medals” used for more formal dress uniform events (wear a white shirt instead of light blue and wear white gloves). “Decorated” could mean medals only ( higher deccorations like Purple Heart or Medal of Honor)but it’s a vague term, like a food called"diet" or “natural”. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/35 "2010-07-08T13:43:05Z")
I have a very liberal definition of decorated, if you were in the service at all, and got anything resembling a medal, you’re decorated. Why? Because you served. Maybe you didn’t go to a war zone, maybe you didn’t see combat, but you could have, you volunteered to do so if necessary. Being lucky doesn’t disqualify you for being honored with the word “decorated.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525/36 "2010-07-08T14:57:04Z")
> [@T.Slothrop](#): > > I know your father had more than that. He at least had the National Defense Service Medal which meant that he served during time of war. He may have had others. The GCM was the only one that he chose to wear. See post #31. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-go-through-military-service-and-be-honorably-discharged-without-being-decorated/544525.md?page=1)