A new medal is drawing heat from some close to our nation’s military.
The Distinguished Warfare Medal was unveiled two weeks ago.
Since it’s creation, representatives from the VFW have gone all the way to the White House with formal complaints.
The Distinguished Warfare Medal is to be awarded to cyber war personnel, including pilots of unmanned aircrafts. This does not include people who are physically present in a war zone.
The new medal currently outranks medals like the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Meaning it outranks honors for heroism and being wounded or killed in battle.
Edgar Dauberman was awarded a Purple Heart from the Korean War. He believes cyber warfare should have honors, but not ranked above his. "I'd strongly oppose it. That's not to put me above anybody else. I just can't see putting anybody that's doing their job above a man that's recieved it or been awarded the purple heart."
Even the Military Order of the Purple Heart is accusing the Pentagon of using poor judgment.
Now, Congress is stepping in.
Representative Scott Perry, a member of the National Guard released a statement Tuesday night, saying ”I support the creation of the Distinguished Warfare Medal. Valid questions have been raised, however, regarding this medal’s ranking in the Department of Defense’s (DoD) order of precedence. I hope DoD gives full consideration to these concerns as they review this matter.”
The Distinguished Warfare Medal is to be awarded for extraordinary achievements in a military operation that occurred after September 11th.
It is the first new force-wide medal for combat since 1944.
