AWARDS
A-Z
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The Registrar

Posthumous

PROJECT : To list the 503d PRCT recipients of the major gallantry awards.

In these days of  pandering politicians,  a selfish and all-pervading misuse of media,  and legions of venal bureaucrats,  it is almost impossible to conceive of the manner in which fighting men routinely confront great dangers and personal risk.  What more if you were one of a thousand men who were each and all willing to accept the risk that, at someone else's throw of the dice, all would be lost? How would you spend today if you knew that you would be shot at tomorrow morning? That's the ordinary, everyday bravery of the Soldier.  

These medals are awarded not on the basis of what we, in our soft and comfortable lives, think of today as bravery, gallantry or valor, but for conduct  recognised by soldiers themselves in the midst of a battlefield understand of those qualities - for acts which, to them,  are regarded as being highly conspicuous - and worthy to be permanently recorded for merit.

The system isn't perfect. Some awards were politic, some should have been greater, some were more likely to be awarded to Regular Army, and at least appears to have been self-awarded. But controversy aside, they were  deserved.

Before he died, Colonel Jones admitted that perhaps he had not approved awards to the extent that other commanders had, or that truly merited them. He had, for instance, opposed the granting of the CMH to Pvt. McCarter, because he considered McCarter to be of a personality that didn't  justify such recognition. (Shorter words were used.)

This is a continuing project and will be added to when we come across the necessary information. For that, we seek any assistance which you can render.  As always, write us with suggestions and corrections.