There is a report in Navy Times about a Navy Medical Officer who was awarded the Navy Cross last year.
Somewhere out in the fleet, there’s a Navy medical officer who earned the Navy Cross during vicious, hammering combat five years ago.
And he’s not authorized to wear the award — second only to the Medal of Honor.
That’s because the 2003 mission, during which the officer fought like a demon and put himself in the line of fire to save several wounded American and Afghan comrades from al-Qaida and Taliban forces, remains classified.
In my time on active duty, I had heard of awards given to folks who were not allowed to wear them. I have also seen awards that are somewhat vague on specifics (then you have the PARCHE).
This is the first time I have heard of a Navy Cross awarded in which the recipient is not allowed to discuss or wear it.
Brenton said the information in the citation is unclassified but the officer’s identity remains undisclosed because “the mission was sensitive.”
He was awarded the Navy Cross in April 2007.
“His name has been redacted to protect the individual, as well as the individual’s family,” Brenton said.
A copy of the citation, with name redacted, is available on the Navy Times website.
To the unnamed LT, my hat is off to you.
When we went through grandad’s safe deposit box after he died we found his medals and a note that the Presidential Unit Citation was for a classified intelligence mission. We have not been able to find out any further information about it. Oh well. The _7_ stars on his Asia-Pacific Medal are impressive enough.
Great men walk quietly among us. During this long war, we have been blessed by the quality of our troops.
I have no wartime military background myself nor in my immediate family, so I’m surprised and heartened to learn that commendations, medals and awards are given out in these situations.
My bias had been that such things were kept under camo netting entirely.
Congratulations however you are. My hat’s off to you.
C’mon Bull, where’s the link?
Now I actually have to go find something…
TB – the link the Navy Times article is in the first line (“report”).
Mike – the awards are out there (I think we are up to 23 NC’s so far), but have not been that well publicized. The MOH’s have had better press coverage, but I believe it could be better. The conflicts we are fighting are every bit as important as WWII was, yet we are doing a horrible job of recognizing the heroes.
Reading the article, one has to wonder why the LT was not awarded the MOH. His actions on the day, spanning two separate engagements, are certainly on par with any number of MOH citations I’ve read.
I understand that the Navy Cross is nothing to sneeze at, but just what will it take to see a living recipient of the Medal in this conflict?
I hope I’m wrong, not, there are still actions by brave men from WWII that have not been acknowledged due to “THE SECRET” stamp.
That said, it may be years before we know of the ABOVE and BEYOND actions of these fantastic soldiers that only the USA could produce! Wish the process could move a little faster.