Imma gonna post something I posted on FB tonight
Ambassador Taylor carries the CIB and that my brother earned that badge.Combat Infantryman Badge-The Most Elite of all combat Awards:
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military award. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers in the rank of colonel and below, who fought in active ground combat while assigned as members of either an Infantry or Special Forces unit of brigade size or smaller at any time after 6 December 1941.
So how elite is this award?
3 times it has been given to General Officers as a crowning achievement in multiple wars and so elite that General Douglas MacArthur wore it possibly in a case of stolen valor, but MacArthur stole a bunch of awards he did not deserve. The other three Generals who wore it-One I had never heard of-he fought a retreat in Korea and spent time as a prisoner after being severely wounded-His name was William F. Dean and the CIB was granted to him in 1955. Joe Stillwell who was actually a bastard as a commander ran raiders against the Japanese in the CBI-you would much rather be Stillwell's dog than a troop under his command (he fought a wounded and ill command of men from 3000 to less than 200 left alive) but he fought and congress awarded him a CIB-his greatest desire as he died of cancer- (fun note:6 months before he died he personally led an assault during the largest riot of prisoners ever seen at what was called the battle of Alcatraz)
The last was Matthew Ridgeway who was in fact a warrior who pioneered airborne troops and faced enemy fire and was awarded a CIB.
Here's the thing-it is not JUST for being shot at-really it was designed to recognize that being infantry sucked even before people shot at you-you lived in the field, and only slept while others stood guard and then patrolled to shoot at people who shot at you first. The award was never about MERELY being shot at-it was the bullshit misery of never a rest or hot meal or even single stinking thing that even said humping will be ended for a week.
So four Generals each of whom "bestrode continents and wars" got or wore the award-one stole it and the rest wanted it so much they took it when it was prohibited to them. My brother Brian has it because he was 1/506 of the 101st airborne and walked point in the Ah Shau. And even MacArthur tried to steal the honor that came with that.
= new reply since forum marked as read
... and thanks for your testimony today. I'm sure it will help convince people that the orange anus must go.
Same badge, but awarded to those with a Communications MOS.
To your brother -