Yet Another Posthumous Medal Of Honor

This has become a pet peeve of mine through our 10 year war with the Islamic extremists. We have yet another soldier being awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. The recipient this time is Staff Sergeant Robert J Miller, a member of the 3rd Special Forces Group.

Why has it now become necessary to pay the ultimate sacrifice in order to be considered for this medal? In all of past wars the medal has been bestowed upon service members who did not, which is why some of them have been awarded it more then once.

I am certainly glad that the actions and sacrifices of the service members who receive this honor is recognized, I just wish we hadn't moved the standards to being one that includes the loss of life of the service member.

Jan. 25, Miller found himself willingly leading a team of Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition soldiers during a combat reconnaissance patrol in Konar Province, near the Pakistan border. Insurgents hiding in a structure attacked Miller’s team. A fellow teammate called for close-air support to drop ordnance on the insurgent position, disrupting their attack. When the combined patrol moved toward the structure to check for any remaining enemy threats, insurgents again fired using heavy weapons.

Miller’s team captain was seriously wounded within the first minutes of the attack. While his commander was moved to safety, Miller returned fire. At great personal risk to himself, Miller remained at the front of the patrol and continued to lay down suppressive fire on multiple insurgent positions, allowing his wounded commander to be pulled out of the line of fire, ultimately saving his life. Miller’s personal courage under intense enemy fire enabled the entire patrol to gain cover and return fire. Even while injured by direct enemy small arms and machine gun fire, Miller continued to employ his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and grenades to suppress enemy fire and protect his teammates.

For more on SSG Miller's actions which earned him this award visit our friends over at Blackfive.

More here.

I am sure the awarding of this medal will receive at least as much attention as Bristol Palin's appearance on Dancing with the Stars or high school dropout, kiddie breeder, and mayorial candidate Levi Johnson. Or at least more then Snookie's arrest for Public Intoxication.

But probably not.