Election Year Heroes / Stooges of Special Interest

MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS SELF DESTRUCT: MEDALS DECORATE NEOCON SURROGATES ON THE ATTACK CIRCUIT AGAIN

BY G. DUFF

In this election year two Medal of Honor Winners, Bud Day and James Livingston are starting out as leaders of Neocon groups funded by oil companies, defense contractors and Washington PR firms.  Their mission is to run cover for the outrageous war in Iraq (a country I will be visiting again this month) and to put a heroic face on backroom deals like the one McCain pulled sending 10,000 American jobs to France by letting them build our new Air Force tankers.

US Veterans Dispatch, sponsor of Rolling Thunder, has attacked John McCain as North Vietnamese collaborator and "Hanoi Songbird".  McCains defense was to drag out Colonel Bud Day, the only man to have received an unwitnessed Medal of Honor and McCains divorce lawyer as "cover".  Day is now a regular campaign item, and leader of one of the many phony veterans groups the powerful war lobby has created.  (http://www.usvetdsp.com)

Another Bush/War Lobby group fronting for the "Bush Third Term/McCain for President" farce is Vets for Freedom.  (www.vetsforfreedom.org/about/advisors2.aspx)  This group, as you will note, includes "vets" who sit on the board of GENERAL DYANAMICS (http://www.generaldynamics.com/) and are members of the Council on Foreign Relations, whose membership includes, starting with Haliburton Corporation, every major oil company and defense contractor that helped drive the US into a needless war and bankruptcy. Even top banks, now reeling from our current financial crisis, are members.  It takes alot of medals to justify $4 dollar gasoline…

Never has a "bi-partisan think tank" been less "bi-partisan" or done less thinking.  Pegged by conspiratorialists as the "ground zero" for the New World Order, the CFR fouts its independence on piles of corporate war cash.  With Rockefeller and JP Morgan roots, no one really knows where their influence stops but we do know one thing, the current mess we are in was one they initiated and planned.

My "war hero" for today is James Livingston, former Marine General, Vietnam Vet and Iraq War/McCain/Bush frontman selling the lives of our children behind powerful supporters and a MEDAL OF HONOR.  Lets take a closer look at that medal citation.

Any of this sound familiar:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer, Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 2 May 1968, Company E launched a determined assault on the heavily fortified village of Dai Do, which had been seized by the enemy on the preceding evening isolating a Marine company from the remainder of the battalion. Skillfully employing screening agents, Captain Livingston maneuvered his men to assault positions across 500 meters of dangerous open rice paddy while under intense enemy fire. Ignoring hostile rounds impacting near him, he fearlessly led his men in a savage assault against enemy emplacements within the village. While adjusting supporting arms fire, Captain Livingston moved to the points of heaviest resistance, shouting words of encouragement to his Marines, directing their fire, and spurring the dwindling momentum of the attack on repeated occasions. Although twice painfully wounded by grenade fragments, he refused medical treatment and courageously led his men in the destruction of over 100 mutually supporting bunkers, driving the remaining enemy from their positions, and relieving the pressure on the stranded Marine company. As the two companies consolidated positions and evacuated casualties, a third company passed through the friendly lines launching an assault on the adjacent village of Dinh To, only to be halted by a furious counterattack of an enemy battalion. Swiftly assessing the situation and disregarding the heavy volume of enemy fire, Captain Livingston boldly maneuvered the remaining effective men of his company forward, joined forces with the heavily engaged Marines, and halted the enemy’s counterattack. Wounded a third time and unable to walk, he steadfastly remained in a dangerously exposed area, deploying his men to more tenable positions and supervising the evacuation of casualties. Only when assured of the safety of his men did he allow himself to be evacuated. Captain Livingston’s gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service.

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Livingston )

Having some familiarity with the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade as I had served as a combat infantryman with this organization in Vietnam, I can clearly mention a few things based on personal experience.

1.  Boilerplate Medals: I have seen much of the language in this citation before.  This is as close to boiler plate for medals given to rear eschelon officers for their mandatory "Bronze or Silver Star" as I have seen.  At least Livingston was actually with a combat unit, give him credit for that as many never saw one second of action for their decorations.  In cases, the same mimeograph was used to give out dozens of awards for fictious action.  I believe that much of the action itself listed above happened and Livingston was really there.  This alone makes him well above average.

2.  What really happened?  For those of us who are COMBAT VETERANS, some with more than a bit of experience, we know that the Marines this person was "leading" carried all the weight and did all the fighting.  If one officer was given a medal of honor then you can be sure that two dozen more deserving troops who didnt ride in a jeep all day or sleep in a bed didnt get a Medal of Honor or any award except the Purple Heart for those who died.  That part isn’t mentioned, just "evacuated casualties".  I would almost bet that some of those evacuated casualties died or were wounded in circumstances easily described as "above and beyond the call of duty".  Anyone there, with enough creative prose backing could have qualifed for a Medal of Honor.  Anything else would have been against the real traditions of the Marine Corps.

3.  Posthumus Awards:  Medal of Honor winners have, generally, one thing in common, they are dead.  ( http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/moh/moh18.htm )  The list here included men like John Basalone, MOH winner on Guadalcanal, whose heroism was amazing.  Many others, mostly killed in action, are listed and should be revered.  NONE OF THEM EVER WORE THEIR MEDAL OF HONOR AT A POLITICAL RALLY FUNDED BY WAR PROFITEERS AND OIL COMPANIES.

MARINE CEMETERY BELLEAU WOOD, FRANCE (photo courtesy of G. Duff)

4.  The disease of "HERO WORSHIP":  With casualty levels in Vietnam well above WW2 levels, fighting while "painfully wounded by grenade fragments" was pretty common.  Pulling them out when possible and putting dressings on the area was treatment.  Leaving the field or your buddies was something any real Marine would do only under duress.  One of my buddies was medivaced for a grenade fragment wound as it tore into his skull and we were afraid he would lose what little sense he had.  Ralph (Marine Corporal, later Sergeant Ralph Eckard, Force Recon) got on the first jeep back, half healed, but was to have another mishap, this one to cost him 2 legs and an arm, days before his scheduled rotation date.  Guys like Ralph or another good friend Larry Williamson who was killed that day, were not rewarded for their heroism, although I witnessed both exceeding even the bloated wording of the citation above on more than one occasion.

5.  The REMF factor (Rear Eschelon "people"): Medals given to some end up as an insult to those who die without powerful friends or recognition from honest and competent officers.  The vast majority of heroes are never recognized while "Indian braves that hang close to the teepee" , always ready to light that cigarette or get that cup of coffee, leave war decorated like Mexican generals. 

6. "IF YOU MET A REAL HERO, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW":  We never see the real heros: While attending the opening of the World War II memorial (a story I love to relate in longer form) I spent a late evening talking to a wheel chair bound former Marine Raider from World War II.  These, the finest of the Corp, fought the toughest fights, often in hand to hand combat, from the first days of the war to the last.  Lauching from submarines, raiders in small groups attacked Japanese outposts in the pacific.  This hero, "real winner of several medals of honor" had 3 ribbons on his uniform.  A current recruit can end up with more than that in training.  This Marine Raider thanked me for my service in Vietnam.  I felt about 3 inches tall.  I hope he is still alive and well as possible and doesn’t read this.  He would be embarassed.

7.  System that is backwards:  Officers who, as all who have fought well know, see only a small percentage of the combat of enlisted men, live a safer and, on occasion, a quite privileged lifestyle.  We have heroic officers who fight along with heroic troops but more often the case, we have officers who travel from unit to unit observing combat, occasionally being killed in the process, but living a life far safer and making fewer sacrifices than the men they lead.  OFFICERS WHO "DECORATE EACH OTHER" OUT OF CAREER NECESSITY, OVER THE YEARS, HAVE CREATED A GAME THAT HAS BEEN A BLIGHT ON REAL FIGHTING MEN FOR YEARS.  OFFICERS WHO USE THOSE DECORATIONS, EARNED BY THE SACRIFICE OF OTHERS (AS MANY SHOULD BE DESCRIBED) TO ENRICH THEMSELVES, SUPPORT CORPORATE "PIGS", SIT ON BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OR PEDDLE LIES TO CONGRESS NEED TO STOP DISHONORING THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WAR DEAD WHOSE SACRIFICE BUILT THE PEDESTAL THEY USE FOR PROMOTING THEMSELVES.

8.  Proof:  BEFORE AWARDING A MEDAL TO A COMMANDER, THERE SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE PROOF THAT HIS ACTS EXCEEDED ALL ACTS OF MEN AT THE SAME ACTION.  IF ONE IS DECORATED, THEN ALL SHOULD BE.  IF SOMEONE "SENDS" SOMEONE TO ATTACK AN ENEMY POSITION AND GETS A MEDAL FOR IT, AND THE MAN ATTACKING THE POSITION IS KILLED AND FORGOTTEN, AS IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE CASE, WE NEED TO REDRESS THE SITUATION.  It’s time someone in the military admitted that medals are generally "lobbied for" and awarded, often, for reasons unrelated to an "heroic act".

9.  Duty:  It is the duty of an officer to lead his men by example.  Even I admit that no officer serving today created the corrupt system we have.  Wearing medals earned by others as part of an endemic corrupt system, as the military so often is, does not make an officer either bad or dishonorable, just weak.  Not speaking out or trying to change things from below is necessary for survival.  THAT NO TOP COMMANDER OTHER THAN COLONEL DAVID HACKWORTH ( WHO WAS FORCED TO RESIGN FROM THE ARMY AFTER 3 WARS FOR TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT VIETNAM) EXPOSED THE SYSTEM FOR WHAT IT IS PROVES BEYOND A DOUBT THAT A CULTURE OF DISHONESTY DEFINES OUR MILITARY LEADERSHIP.  To the commanders who shun recognition, work to achieve excellence and reward their men for sacrifice and bravery please accept the thanks of a grateful nation. 

JACK LUCAS, GRAVELY ILL WITH CANCER AND REAL AMERICAN HERO WON THE MEDAL OF HONOR DURING WW2 AS A MARINE

10.  Redress:  MEDALS AREN’T THE PROBLEM, SERVICE ACADEMIES AND FEUDAL TRADITIONS ENCOURAGE SELF AGRANDIZEMENT AND CORRUPTION.  PAY, PRIVILEGE AND INSTITIONALIZED "FAWNING AND SUBSERVIANCE" NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM OUR MILITARY.  REAL LEADERS NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED, NOT "NON THREATENING" OR "GULLIBLE AND COOPERATIVE" TYPES WHO, TOO OFTEN, WORM THEIR WAY INTO THE TOP RANKS OF THE PENTAGON MAKING UP WHAT "HACK" (COL. HACKWORTH) CALLED "THE PERFUMED PRINCES OF THE PENTAGON". 

ALL AWARDS NEED TO BE SUPPORTED, NOT FROM "ABOVE AND BEHIND" AS IS THE CASE NOW, BUT FROM BELOW, WHERE THE REAL WARRIORS ARE.  EVERY ACTION THAT GENERATES A MEDAL FOR A COMMANDER WHO OBSERVES SHOULD GENERATE TEN MEDALS FOR MEN WHO KICK IN DOORS EVERY DAY FACING GUNFIRE, BOMBS OR SLEEPING CHILDREN.  STOP AND IMAGINE THE NIGHTMARES THIS COULD CAUSE AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE EPIDEMIC OF SUICIDES TAKING THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF OUR YOUNG VETS.

Decorated "heroes" who use medals, rank and "contacts" as a platform for spewing hate, amassing corporate wealth or propaganizing should be violating the law.  IF THERE WAS EVER A DEFINITION FOR "CONDUCT UNBECOMING", THIS IS IT.  THE FAWNING CROWDS PROGRAMMED BY YEARS OF WAR STORIES AND "JOHN WAYNE (YES, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DRAFT DODGERS IN HISTORY) MOVIES" HELP FEED THIS CIRCUS THAT DISHONORS THE MEMORY OF THE FORGOTTEN WOUNDED IN WALTER REED, THE THOUSANDS WAITING FOR TREATMENT AND COMPENSATION THAT MAY NEVER COME FROM THE VA AND THE DEAD AND THEIR FAMILIES.

 I WOULD GIVE A MEDAL OF HONOR TO WELL OVER 4000 DEAD AND CERTAINLY TO EVERY SERIOUSLY WOUNDED SERVICEMAN WHO HAS DEFENDED HIS FRIENDS AND GIVEN SO MUCH.  FAMILIES ALL OVER AMERICA HAVE LOVED ONES WHO EARNED THIS HONOR AS HAVE THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS LIVING WITH DISFIGURING BURNS, MISSING LIMBS AND A LIFETIME THAT WILL REQUIRE COURAGE EVERY DAY.  We can begin honoring the memories of our recent dead and our surviving heroes while we have the chance to make a difference in their lives, in our miltary tradition and in defense of what is most honorable about our country.

DEMANDING THAT THESE WARRIORS RISE FROM THEIR WHEEL CHAIRS TO SALUTE THE MILLIONAIRE ON THE PODIUM STANDING BETWEEN THE OIL EXECUTIVE AND THE ARMS MANUFACTURER IS A SCENE THAT NEEDS TO BE PURGED FROM AMERICAN LIFE.

  Gordon Duff is a regular contributor on military and political issues.  He is also a Marine Combat Veteran of the Vietnam War, disabled veteran and an Envoy Extraordinaire for a UN humanitarian organization.

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Gordon Duff

Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.

Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.

Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.

• Gordon’s Archives:  2008-2015
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