Medals And Ribbons More Than Decorations

Looks like we have hit the bottom of the barrel. I read with some interest the letter to the editor from Randy Ludacer. What was he trying to do? I wonder what his comments intend to imply?
Is he upset with the politics? Does he not like Gen. Petraeus? Or was this a mockery of a couple of soldiers? It is obvious to me that this was an attempt to ridicule a sitting U.S. Army Gen. for his accomplishments, as well as those of other fine members of our military who proudly wear their ribbons, badges and medals.

I tried to find some positive in his comments and could find none. I looked for something that applauded General Petraeus for his service and read nothing. What is most interesting is that Mr. Ludacer made a point to count how many badges Gen. Petraeus wore and how much "gold falderal and garniture" was on Gen. Peter Pace's cover (Cap.) Yet he makes no attempt in his spewing to note the dedication this man or others have made in serving their country.

He labels them as insecure or concerned about recognition. Again, it is obvious to this veteran that Mr. Ludacer's only objective was to demean this man and the military as a whole. If that were not his objective, then I would assume he would, somewhere in his letter, have mentioned his gratitude to all the military as well as Gen. Petraeus.

Unlike Mr. Ludacer, I wanted to know what Gen. Petraeus did to earn those numerous rows of multicolored ribbons. This is a brief description.

First and foremost, he is a graduate of West Point, since then he has earned a master's and Ph.D. Some of those decorations include Combat Badge, Bronze Star, Air Assault Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism, Humanitarian Service Medal, Ranger Tab and the list goes on. Not to mention his 33 years of service to our country.

My point is simple: Gen. Petraeus and hundreds of thousands more have earned these decorations in the service to our country. Scores of veterans, family and friends look at those ribbons, embellishments and medals as badges of honor, not decorations. For some families that is all they have as their loved ones gave the ultimate sacrifice for you and me.

Our privates and generals don't ask for a lot, but they do deserve our gratitude instead of your mockery. They need our support instead of your demeaning spirit, and most of all we need to say thank you for doing the job some are not willing to do.

The medals and ribbons are a reflection of their accomplishments and service to our country, as you put it a "visual history of their military service." All of their ribbons, whether they were awarded for schools, humanitarian deeds or combat readiness prepare them for their task. If the man or woman who fights for or defends my freedom wants to wear ribbons or medals, I will help them attach them to their uniform and polish the bill of their cover with gratitude.

I hope that you move away from the elementary criticism that you voiced in your last letter and at the very least, show gratitude for those who have served. I am not saying you should agree with them, but it feels good to say thank you and I feel confident you may have a teary eyed service member say thanks back.

By the way, my son left Iraq yesterday after his second deployment. I am sure he will receive additional ribbons for his service there and will wear them with pride and dignity. As a matter of fact, he wears the blood stripe on his dress blue trousers in memory of those who lost their lives in the battle of Chapultepec in 1847.

He did not receive these stripes for a job well done or any heroic event he was involved in, but wears them in honor of those noncommissioned officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Mr. Ludacer, you are welcome to attend his homecoming and he will be happy to explain what his ribbons mean to him and his comrades. They are more than decorations.