Troops denied special Afghan medal

[3rd Herd]

The Usual Disclaimer:
Troops denied special Afghan medal
By Stephen Adams, Martin Beckford and Duncan Gardham
Last Updated: 1:34pm BST 14/08/2007

The Ministry of Defence was facing severe criticism last night for refusing to award a special honour to soldiers fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

British troops serving in Helmand province are being denied a dedicated medal to recognise the intensity of the conflict, campaigners said.

War veterans, MPs and families of those who have lost loved ones in the fighting - the heaviest British forces have experienced since the Second World War - have urged the MoD to make a special award for the thousands of soldiers and marines who have put their lives at risk on a daily basis fighting insurgents.

Their calls came as Britain faced up to another grim milestone in the fight against the Taliban - the death of its 70th soldier since the operation began in November 2001, and the seventh fatality since July 7.

Despite the ferocity of the campaign, those who have fought in Helmand still receive exactly the same medal as those who undertook relatively safe peace-keeping duties in the Afghan capital, Kabul, immediately after the Taliban were deposed.

Critics say the situation is now "completely different" and believe the MoD is missing out on an easy way to boost morale at a critical time..............http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/14/nmedal114.xml

 

[geo]

Hmmm... interesting.
we had the South West Asia Service Medal (SWASM) with the Afghanistan clasp
and we have the General Campaign (GCS) star with the ISAF clasp.

At some time in the future, they're supposed to release three grades of a "combat" service badge... whenever that comes to happen......

 

[dapaterson]

At some time in the future, they're supposed to release three grades of a "combat" service badge... whenever that comes to happen......

Geo:

Nothing has been approved yet.  There are proposals working their way through the bureaucracy, but the GG has yet to approve any new awards or insignia.

 

[geo]

Sometime in the future, whenever it happens

Que sera sera.....

 

[3rd Herd]

The usual disclaimer:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/16/nmedal216.xml

Troops' long fight for recognition of combat
Last Updated: 1:27am BST 16/08/2007

The issue of medals and proper recognition for facing the enemy in combat is one that has rankled soldiers since the 19th century.

The first instance of a bar being added came after the 1845-1846 Sikh War, when clasps were added from separate engagements.

There was reluctance from the authorities to mint a new medal for the Second Afghan War of 1878-1880. It was thought the Indian Medal of 1854 with a bar added for Afghanistan would suffice, until Queen Victoria stepped in to demand a new award.

The Afghan campaign medal then carried six bars that could be worn by soldiers who fought at Ali-Musjid, Kabul, Kandahar, Peiwar-Kotal, Charasia and Ahmed-Khel.

The 1857 China War also carried bars that reflected the battles at Canton, Peking and Taku Forts. In the 1899-1902 Boer War there were several clasps, including the Relief of Mafeking and Defence of Ladysmith.

While there was sustained lobbying for the gruelling battles of the First World War to be recognised, the huge numbers involved precluded this. The only award approaching a clasp was the Mons Star, given to those who served in France between 1914 and 1915.

Recognition for individual campaigns in the Second World War was wider with the Africa Star, Burma Star and North West Europe Star.

The General Service Medal, introduced in 1918, covered all conflicts between the wars and after. The purple and green ribbon could be decorated with conflicts from Iraq (1919) to Malaya, Aden and Northern Ireland. It was discontinued in 2000 and replaced by the Operational Service Medal which now has different coloured ribbons and back for operations such as Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Edit to add:

Officers back special medals for Helmand
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:27am BST 16/08/2007

Officers leading troops on the front line in Afghanistan yesterday backed the campaign for them to receive a special honour to recognise the ferocity of fighting faced in Helmand over the past year.

There is anger among troops engaged in daily battles that the warfare will not be distinguished from the benign peacekeeping around Kabul after the Taliban fell in 2001.

Campaigners have called for a bar to be added to their campaign medal in honour of their bravery, a proposal that has received widespread support from MPs, veterans and former cabinet ministers.

But defence chiefs have so far resisted calls for the intense fighting to be recognised, saying the ferocity of campaigns "vary" over their duration.

A soldier who had served in Afghanistan before the Helmand deployment and is now on the front line said the two deployments were "worlds apart". The issue had become "a big and emotional topic with the blokes" where it was a "fundamental gripe", he said...............
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/16/nmedal116.xml

Further:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/08/15/give-our-heroes-a-medal-89520-19631725/

Give our heroes a medal
By Chris Hughes 15/08/2007

A campaign for a medal to be struck for our dead and wounded servicemen and women was launched last night by the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan.

Col Richard Kemp says he wants recognition for the sacrifices being made by the troops there and in Iraq.

And the Daily Mirror is backing his call for a true symbol to mark the losses being incurred on the two fronts.

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Col Kemp, 47, who was the most senior officer in Afghanistan in 2003 and commanded 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, now heads a major private security operation.

But with his former regiment mourning another comrade, he said: "It is about time we acknowledged that the troops are at war and give them a medal - as we did in both the First and Second World Wars - for what they go through when wounded. Or award it posthumously to their families if they are killed."

In America wounded soldiers are awarded the Purple Heart.

Now Col Kemp, himself injured in a blast in Armagh in 1986, wants a British medal to be given to those wounded or killed in battle.

He said: "Iraq and Afghan casualties are getting to the same rate as World War II. This isn't an anti-war message. But we shouldn't be scared of letting the public know exactly how many are being injured. They should be told."

"There is unbelievable heroism being carried out - and I just ask that our dead and wounded get a medal."

 

[axeman]

Hmmm... interesting.
we had the South West Asia Service Medal (SWASM) with the Afghanistan clasp
and we have the General Campaign (GCS) star with the ISAF clasp.

At some time in the future, they're supposed to release three grades of a "combat" service badge... whenever that comes to happen......


We have had the SWASM with Afghanistan clasp issued to the Navy  now the Navy simply gets the SWASM  without clasp but many members are getting the clasp added along with leaf when court mounting the medal. Well after my tour in 02 with the Patricia's and just finishing one this spring with the Navy i can see why there should be the difference in medals .The fact of  it is that the Navy "proper, IE with the ships  " does not get to Afghanistan but they DO support the mission there. so thusly similar medal but not the same .In Korea the Navy received the same medal but they were putting steel on target on the ground not so with the Navy now .

 

[Red 6]

In the United States, DOD initially only awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal to US servicemembers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The rumor at the time was they didn't want to spend the money on dedicated campaign medals. In any event Congress interceded and forced the issue and, as a result, separate medals were struck for Iraq and Afghanistan. On a sort of related note, Congress has once again started  working on a law regarding the Cold War Victory Medal, which has been struck down before by the Executive Branch because of the cost involved. Instead, each US servicemember who served in the Cold War is currently authorized to petition for a certificate of service. I have one myself and they're extremely cheesy.

I don't understand the big deal about striking a dedicated campaign medal for this action by the British armed forces. Their people are serving in some of the largest actions and doing so with bravery and honor. What they're doing over there is fighting a major ground war.

 

[geo]

For whatever reason, the UK and to a certain Canada & Commonwealth countries are still very conservative when awarding medals & decorations.  Prior to 1990, it was quite normal to see a 20 year man with one or two gongs... not any more though.

 

[Reccesoldier]

For whatever reason, the UK and to a certain Canada & Commonwealth countries are still very conservative when awarding medals & decorations.  Prior to 1990, it was quite normal to see a 20 year man with one or two gongs... not any more though.

The reason being that medals are supposed to mean something.  I'm not saying that this case doesn't warrant a special medal but it is a pet peeve of mine that some people seem to think that the honours system is designed as a sort of visible MPRR.  It is not.

In the words of Sir Winston Churchill

"The object of giving medals, stars and ribbons is to give pride and pleasure to those who have deserved them. At the same time, a distinction is something which everybody does not possess.

If all have it, it is less value.

There must therefore be heart burnings and disappointments on the borderline. A medal glitters, but it also casts a shadow. The task of drawing up regulations for such awards is one that does not admit of a perfect solution. It is not possible to satisfy everybody without running the risk of satisfying nobody."

 

[dapaterson]

The reason being that medals are supposed to mean something.  I'm not saying that this case doesn't warrant a special medal but it is a pet peeve of mine that some people seem to think that the honours system is designed as a sort of visible MPRR.  It is not.

I was have an email exchange with a friend discussing this issue.  We talked about Honorary Captain Foote, VC, of the RHLI (65th anniversary of his Victoria Cross is this Sunday).  His award reads, in part

At Dieppe on 19th August 1942, Honourary Captain Foote, Canadian Chaplain Services, was Regimental Chaplain with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.

Upon landing on the beach under heavy fire he attached himself to the Regimental Aid Post which had been set up in a slight depression on the beach, but which was only sufficient to give cover to men lying down. During the subsequent period of approximately eight hours, while the action continued, this officer not only assisted the Regimental Medical Officer in ministering to the wounded in the Regimental Aid Post, but time and again left this shelter to inject morphine, give first-aid and carry wounded personnel from the open beach to the Regimental Aid Post. On these occasions, with utter disregard for his personal safety, Honourary Captain Foote exposed himself to an inferno of fire and saved many lives by his gallant efforts. During the action, as the tide went out, the Regimental Aid Post was moved to the shelter of a stranded landing craft. Honourary Captain Foote continued tirelessly and courageously to carry wounded men from the exposed beach to the cover of the landing craft. He also removed wounded from inside the landing craft when ammunition had been set on fire by enemy shells. When landing craft appeared he carried wounded from the Regimental Aid Post to the landing craft through heavy fire. On several occasions this officer had the opportunity to embark but returned to the beach as his chief concern was the care and evacuation of the wounded. He refused a final opportunity to leave the shore, choosing to suffer the fate of the men he had ministered to for over three years.

Honourary Captain Foote personally saved many lives by his efforts and his example inspired all around him. Those who observed him state that the calmness of this heroic officer as he walked about, collecting the wounded on the fire-swept beach will never be forgotten.

My firend noted that, under the proposed new decorations, Capt Foote would only qualify for a bronze "combat action badge", as he only received fire, and never fired back.  He then observed "Difficult to colour coordinate all forms of courage I guess."

 

[Reccesoldier]

dapaterson, the CAB or whatever is not a medal it is a badge, it will not be administered by DH&R but by DHH.  It does not denote courage on the battlefield in any way shape or form.  Apples and lamp shades... not even remotely similar in function or form.

 

[geo]

I was have an email exchange with a friend discussing this issue.  We talked about Honorary Captain Foote, VC, of the RHLI (65th anniversary of his Victoria Cross is this Sunday).  His award reads, in part

My firend noted that, under the proposed new decorations, Capt Foote would only qualify for a bronze "combat action badge", as he only received fire, and never fired back.  He then observed "Difficult to colour coordinate all forms of courage I guess."

At this point, nothing precludes the nomination for medals of valour.
This fella had valour by the bucketfull & rightfully deserved his VC