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Letters

A method to achieve Medal fairness

I have a simple way to eliminate the supposed discrimination associated with awards submissions [“More prestigious combat medals go to officers,” May 4]: Do away with questions such as race, gender, rank and so forth. That is a sure way for awards boards to make their choices based on the events — and nothing more. If statistics are still needed to appease our equal opportunity military, then compile the data after the decision whether to award has been made.

Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Michaelson

Chicopee, Mass.

Respect your female colleagues

I find it disgusting the way male Marines treat female Marines — not only concerning awards, but as individuals. Every one of those Marines is someone’s sister, daughter, mother, girlfriend or wife, and male Marines should ask themselves how they would like members of their family treated. They both earned their Eagle Globe and Anchor in the same manner, at the same location, so why the hell can’t the men accept that women work as hard as they do? They put their lives in danger just as men do.

They love their country the same.

Wake up, guys. Where would you be if these young ladies didn’t do the jobs they do? Your ranks would be much lighter, and your jobs much harder to accomplish.

Stop treating them like they don’t matter.

Former Lance Cpl. Steve H. Jones

Bowling Green, Ky.

GI Bill transfers leave many out

I just read “Approved: GI Bill transfers” [May 11].

It was another interesting article about GI Bill transfers for those post-9/11 veterans who retire after Aug 1, 2009.

For those post-9/11 veterans who retired before Aug 1, 2009 — thanks for your service, but your service wasn’t as necessary or deserving as those who are active or retiring after Aug. 1, 2009. Transferability is only important as a recruiting and retention tool that doesn’t apply to you. You are already retired and you are not a significant contributor to shaping the future of our services. Step aside and watch how Pentagon policymakers manipulate GI Bill transferability policies to target the most deserving veterans to assure a viable future force.

I must say that the article is thorough at identifying all the facts about GI Bill transferability and how Pentagon policymakers insightfully guided legislation to include rules that would not drive members to stay in uniform to earn transferability. Impressive, but that’s where reporting ends and journalism takes a holiday. I like a good news story like everyone else, and GI Bill transferability is a great story for service members, but what about all the other facts that make a full and truthful story?

To all active-duty service members, remember this veteran’s small voice identifying inequity today, and think about how and why veterans continue to suffer so much at the hands of well-meaning policymakers and legislators.

Air Force Maj. Miles Muramoto (ret.)

Lorton, Va.

There’s no ‘I’ in team in the war zones

Sgt. Aaron Denning has delivered a slap in the face to all Marines who serve in support-related specialties [“No, we’re not all riflemen,” Letters, May 11]. Obviously, he doesn’t understand Marines from all military occupational specialties have served as provisional infantry in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He doesn't know about Cpl. Johnson, a supply Marine, who traveled to Iraq to be a female searcher, and at one point helped save the lives of two infantry Marines who were wounded by a double-stacked mine. He must not know about Lance Cpl. Whitman, a welder, and Lance Cpl. Kroll, a heavy equipment operator, who successfully stopped the enemy with their M249 and M240G when their position in Haditha was being overrun — resulting in two wounded enemy combatants, and earning themselves a Navy Achievement Medal with “V.” He must not know about Cpl. Rupple and Cpl. Green who were sent to Fallujah to crush buildings with D9 bulldozers and were wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade. This got them Purple Hearts and Navy Achievement Medals with “V.”

Sgt. Denning needs to take the blinders off and take a look at the big picture. While on combat missions, Marines in support specialties do not get a special platoon of infantry to take care of their personal security. Every Marine is a rifleman.

Staff Sgt. Timothy N. Black

Recruiting Substation Moreno Valley, Calif.