# Why have no living soldiers received the Medal of Honor in Afghanistan or Iraq? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545 "2010-04-27T18:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/21 "2010-09-15T19:32:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > …[Salvatore Giunta to receive Medal of Honor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvatore_Giunta) A brief interview with him: [http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/15/honor-is-bittersweet-for-first-living-medal-of-honor-winner-since-vietnam/?hpt=T2](http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/15/honor-is-bittersweet-for-first-living-medal-of-honor-winner-since-vietnam/?hpt=T2) ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/22 "2010-10-04T15:43:49Z")
Here’s an article from today’s LA Times that sheds some light on the topic. > **[Why so few Medal of Honor awards?](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-oct-04-la-na-1004-medal-20101004-1-story.html)** > > Why so few Medal of Honor awards? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/23 "2010-10-04T20:41:57Z")
There is more than some discussion among my fellow military that the higher ups were feeling a lot of pressure to award it to a deserving living recipient. I still can’t understand why [Brian Chontosh](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Chontosh) got the NAvy Cross and not the Medal of Honor. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/24 "2010-10-04T20:46:32Z")
Keep in mind that, going by historical precedent, we can expect to see some MoHs awarded years after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyMarine2092](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyMarine2092](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyMarine2092)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/25 "2010-10-05T00:19:57Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > There is more than some discussion among my fellow military that the higher ups were feeling a lot of pressure to award it to a deserving living recipient. I still can’t understand why [Brian Chontosh](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Chontosh) got the NAvy Cross and not the Medal of Honor. I’m personally floored about First Sergent [Brad Kasal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Kasal). He was the subject of one of the iconic photos to come out of Fallujah. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/26 "2010-10-05T00:31:56Z")
Hell, yeah. That’s awesome. If I were President both Chontosh and Kasal would get their Medals of Honor on the double. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/27 "2010-10-05T01:07:15Z")
> [@JerseyMarine2092](#): > > I’m personally floored about First Sergent [Brad Kasal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Kasal). He was the subject of one of the iconic photos to come out of Fallujah. Now _that_ is a hardcore dude. So awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/28 "2010-10-07T12:50:40Z")
Another brief interview with Giunta, who’s determined to make it _not_ about him: [Awarded nation's highest honor, soldier says he felt 'lost,' 'angry' - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/10/06/medal.of.honor.giunta/index.html?hpt=C2) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/29 "2010-10-07T13:17:24Z")
May America ever strive to be worthy of such men, and such courage. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/30 "2010-10-07T14:11:47Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > There is more than some discussion among my fellow military that the higher ups were feeling a lot of pressure to award it to a deserving living recipient. I still can’t understand why [Brian Chontosh](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Chontosh) got the NAvy Cross and not the Medal of Honor. > [@JerseyMarine2092](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > There is more than some discussion among my fellow military that the higher ups were feeling a lot of pressure to award it to a deserving living recipient. I still can’t understand why [Brian Chontosh](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Chontosh) got the NAvy Cross and not the Medal of Honor. > > I’m personally floored about First Sergent [Brad Kasal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Kasal). He was the subject of one of the iconic photos to come out of Fallujah. I suppose it’s impossible to compare and the press descriptions of the fire fights aren’t exactly filled with enough context and detail to really understand them comprehensively, but Kasal’s description seems somewhat more deserving than Giunta’s. Chontosh acted like a complete badass, but in some ways it seems like perhaps he was so aggressive and successful in his attack that perhaps there wasn’t enough peril relative to the standard. It’s interesting to ponder what the standard is for these medals. How do you balance the bravery of an action, the peril, the importance of the mission, the wounds received and the men saved. Perhaps a big part of Giunta’s award is that he killed a high value target in the process of his heroic actions elevating him over the others. Perhaps the others’ peril was more self-inflicted than Guinta’s. Perhaps it was the individualism of his story opposed to the team efforts of the others. Hats off to all of them in any case. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/31 "2010-10-07T17:18:24Z")
Perhaps Congress should get off its duff and nominate and approve some? > [@Wikipedia](#): > > The second method is nomination by a member of Congress (generally at the request of a constituent) and approval by a special act of Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/32 "2010-11-16T20:07:24Z")
Staff Sgt. Giunta was honored today at the White House by a grateful Republic: [Medal of Honor goes to first living recipient from Afghan war - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/16/obama.medal.of.honor/index.html?hpt=T1) ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/33 "2010-11-17T15:02:48Z")
BTW, I’m surprised no one has mentioned it yet, but Staff Sgt. Giunta’s story is told in the Sebastian Junger book “War,” and also featured in the accompanying documentary film “Restrepo.” [Here’s the excerpt from the book](http://www.stripes.com/war-excerpt-about-staff-sgt-salvatore-giunta-s-actions-1.117774). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/34 "2010-11-17T17:03:02Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Staff Sgt. Giunta was honored today at the White House by a grateful Republic: [Medal of Honor goes to first living recipient from Afghan war - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/16/obama.medal.of.honor/index.html?hpt=T1) Well done, sir! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/35 "2011-07-12T12:54:45Z")
Another living Medal of Honor winner to soon be recognized at the White House: [Army Ranger receives Medal of Honor for Afghanistan heroics - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/12/medal.of.honor/index.html)? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/36 "2011-07-12T19:40:44Z")
[Another news article](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/army-ranger-leroy-petry-becomes-second-living-recipient-175158272.html) about SFC Petry but with a glaring error. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/37 "2011-08-13T01:54:51Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > [Another news article](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/army-ranger-leroy-petry-becomes-second-living-recipient-175158272.html) about SFC Petry but with a glaring error. What error? I didn’t see it. Now a living former Marine is to get the Medal of Honor: [http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/08/12/obama.medal.of.honor/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/08/12/obama.medal.of.honor/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/38 "2011-09-16T01:47:29Z")
Well done, Cpl. Meyer: [Marine receives Medal of Honor at White House - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/15/marine.medal.of.honor/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/39 "2011-09-16T03:00:34Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Well done, Cpl. Meyer: [http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/15/marine.medal.of.honor/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/15/marine.medal.of.honor/index.html) +1 ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545/40 "2011-09-16T18:18:12Z")
I found this part emotionally devastating: > [@](#): > > Meyer, who serves in the Inactive Ready Reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as a sergeant, said in November that he didn’t want to discuss details of the incident because it’s still difficult to think about. > > “I was a failure,” Meyer told CNN last fall. “My guys died. That was my whole team.” > > * * * > > “There’s not a day – not a second that goes by where I don’t think about what happened that day,” the Marines quoted Meyer as saying. “I didn’t just lose four Marines that day; I lost four brothers.” I hope Sergeant Meyer has a good support system of friends and family. He sounds wracked by survivors guilt, which pays no heed to accomplishments or honors. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-no-living-soldiers-received-the-medal-of-honor-in-afghanistan-or-iraq/537545.md?page=3)