A recent survey indicated that there is a significant percentage within the US population not familiar with military service awards and medals. The current controversy initiated by veterans who have taken exception with the legitimacy of Sen. Kerry's actions while serving in and post Vietnam has created a great deal of confusion over the references to certain medals and citations. Sen. Kerry received three Purple Hearts and several other service medals during his four months of active service in Vietnam. The receipt of his third Purple Heart provided Sen. Kerry with a swift exit from Vietnam. In question is whether Sen. Kerry earned his service medals with complete and absolute legitimacy.
While not complete, the following links are intended to provide a basic sense of the requirements for being awarded medals, the significance of being awarded and the sense of honor and pride associated with the receipt of the medals. Sen. Kerry threw his medals or possibly only the ribbons associated with his medals over a wall in protest of the war upon returning from Vietnam. This action is viewed by many veterans and American civilians as contrary and insulting to the honorable service by other men and women, and their families, who have a great sense of pride in connection with the heroic actions and sacrifice required to receive the service medals.
Please feel free to pass the links page along to your friends and email lists who may not have served, or who for another reason may not be completely familiar with the medals and awards. It would be difficult to completely understand or appreciate the public debate and formal charges concerning Sen. Kerry's service medals without having a fundamental understanding of the medals and awards in question.
For reference purposes, Sen. Kerry served in the U.S. Navy.
Medal of Honor
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm
Purple Heart
http://www.purpleheart.org/explanation.htm
U.S. Navy & Marines combined Medals
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navawards/blnavawards.htm
U.S. Navy Medals
http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/navyrib.shtml
U.S. Coast Guard Medals
http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/cgribs.shtml
U.S Army Medals
http://www.americal.org/awards/achv-svc.htm
U.S. Air Force Medals
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/afmedals/blafmedals.htm
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