Finally, Another MoH

I was too busy last week to mention that another Medal of Honor is being awarded posthumously to a Navy Seal who died in Afghanistan. Perhaps that's the same reason why no major newspaper or news channel (with the exception of Fox News) bothered to report on the story of Navy Lt. Mike Murphy.

Murphy is the first Medal of Honor recipient from the Navy since Vietnam, though he's not the only Navy nominee. Murphy is the third person to be so recognized for actions since 9/11. There's a concerted effort to investigate each nominee, a process that is taking two years or more (two years, four months for Murphy).

In spite of this thorough review, I believe there will be higher rate of occurrence for the award than in previous years. First, if the fighting stopped today and you take the three Medal of Honor winners and add the handful of men who have jumped on grenades (a sacrificial act common to this award), you already have a higher ratio of Medals of Honor in relation to the number of troops in the combat zone. Today's military (and the number actually fighting) is a lot smaller than in previous wars. Second, this is the first conflict with an all-volunteer professional military. It seems reasonable that volunteers and well-trained professionals would generally conduct themselves better under pressure than conscripts and draftees.

Condolences and respect should go to the family of Mike Murphy and may similar recognition be made of those who have also sacrificed themselves for others. A few of those names include Raphael Peralta, Michael Monsoor, Ross McGinnis, Chris Adlesperger, and many others. Surviving heroes who in earlier wars might have been awarded the Medal of Honor include remarkable individuals like David Bellavia, Brian Chontosh, and Brad Kasal among countless others.