Just thought you should know.
There has been a lot in the news the past few days about PFC McGinnis here in Kosovo, but then again, our cable provider is the AFN (Armed Forces Network) and the Pentagon Channel, so I don't know if anyone at home has even heard about him or know why he's in the news.
PFC McGinnis was just recently, and posthumously, awarded the nations highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. He is the fourth recipient of the award from the conflict in Iraq. I'm in the army and I only knew of one other, SFC Smith of the 3rd Infantry Division. He earned it during the actual invasion roughly about the spot I lived for my year there. In fact, my battalion's living area was considered a separate camp on the BIAP compound and was officially named Camp Smith in honor of SFC Paul R. Smith, so we'd heard the story and knew he had been submitted for it.
SFC Smith was awarded his CMH in late 2004, and it was all over the military news, but I never heard a word about it and his heroism on the news. I guess it wasn't dramatic enough to make make it, or maybe it just put too good a spin on the military, or maybe it was just something that couldn't be spun one way or the other so simply nothing was ever said. Either way, it is a crying shame and a dishonor to SFC Smith, the first CMH awardee from Iraq.
PFC McGinnis was a nineteen year old boy who valiantly and selflessly sacrificed himself for his fellow soldiers and answered the call of his nation, and I am dearly hoping that his story is being spread in the national news. Considering that the only mention I ever heard of SFC Smith's medal was through Army channels and the current unpopularity of the war, I am highly doubting it. Remember, these men are real heroes, not movie actors or sports stars. These are men that anyone can look up to as a hero for their selflessness, courage, and dedication and they are worthy of so much more recognition and respect than they have been getting in the media.
Please, go to the following web-site and read the citations of their Medal's of Honor. Mention them to someone else and have them read them. Do something to remind the rest of America that her sons and daughters are as brave as ever and are doing the right thing, despite what the mass media makes known to us on the evening news.
http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/iraq.html
Sorry, it's been a pensive day here and I had to step up on my personal soap-box for a little. I'll step down now and head to work.
PFC McGinnis was just recently, and posthumously, awarded the nations highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. He is the fourth recipient of the award from the conflict in Iraq. I'm in the army and I only knew of one other, SFC Smith of the 3rd Infantry Division. He earned it during the actual invasion roughly about the spot I lived for my year there. In fact, my battalion's living area was considered a separate camp on the BIAP compound and was officially named Camp Smith in honor of SFC Paul R. Smith, so we'd heard the story and knew he had been submitted for it.
SFC Smith was awarded his CMH in late 2004, and it was all over the military news, but I never heard a word about it and his heroism on the news. I guess it wasn't dramatic enough to make make it, or maybe it just put too good a spin on the military, or maybe it was just something that couldn't be spun one way or the other so simply nothing was ever said. Either way, it is a crying shame and a dishonor to SFC Smith, the first CMH awardee from Iraq.
PFC McGinnis was a nineteen year old boy who valiantly and selflessly sacrificed himself for his fellow soldiers and answered the call of his nation, and I am dearly hoping that his story is being spread in the national news. Considering that the only mention I ever heard of SFC Smith's medal was through Army channels and the current unpopularity of the war, I am highly doubting it. Remember, these men are real heroes, not movie actors or sports stars. These are men that anyone can look up to as a hero for their selflessness, courage, and dedication and they are worthy of so much more recognition and respect than they have been getting in the media.
Please, go to the following web-site and read the citations of their Medal's of Honor. Mention them to someone else and have them read them. Do something to remind the rest of America that her sons and daughters are as brave as ever and are doing the right thing, despite what the mass media makes known to us on the evening news.
http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/iraq.html
Sorry, it's been a pensive day here and I had to step up on my personal soap-box for a little. I'll step down now and head to work.