medal of honor for major richard winters

on ww2incolor.com there was a thread about signing a petition for major winters to get the cmh. if you want to sign it go to google and put in medal of honor for major winters. he really deserves the cmh!

 

Because there was a television series made out of his "celebrity" division?

 

First we need to establish the basis to why he should be awarded the CMH.

 

Not to knock Maj. Winters reputation or to be negative. But there were many others whose stories arent as well known who should have the MOH. Should he deserve one because of a TV series? What about the others?

 

Here is a thread about another individual I posted about awhile back.

http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-today/22180-why-wasnt-wwii-hero-guy-gabaldon-given-medal-honor.html

 

Well-said my friend-all of your posts. Also, I agree with you about Guy Gabaldons case-and will add anothe one who I have always believed should have been awarded the MoH-and that man was in the Navy-mans his name is Dorie "Doris" Miller. He was killed in action on some ship he was on in Iron Bottom Sound off Guadalcanal in 1943? - trying to repeat his bravery actions that he originally did-when Pearl Harbor was attacked. This man I support might shock some that I do because he isn't Caucasion. I really do wish his DSC-or the navy = to it - would be up-graded to the MoH.

 

Anyone know what Dick Winters thinks of this idea? He strikes me as lacking the vanity or conceit needed to back such a claim, he's a humble man who happened to be a great leader.

I have the feeling he's had enough of attention, esp. given the announcement over at Welcome to the Official CMOH Website of Major Richard Winters ;

It is with deep regret that we have to inform you that Dick is no longer signing pictures, books, or posters. Any mail from persons unknown will be disposed of and not answered. Any packages containing books will be refused at the post office. We feel it is time to retire and get some much needed peace and quiet in our golden years.

Regards,
The Winters Family

Evans idea for Dorie Miller strikes me as more sound, esp given the background of the U.S. Navy trying to hush his efforts up and only releasing his details after a lot of pressure at the time. Timing couldn't be better either, although I'm not sure which one of our Yank rogues could bring themselves to write a letter to Uncle Obama.

 

Except, then, by that standard, every sailor who shot down, or was assisted in shooting down a Japanese airplane should receive at least a Navy Cross; and any sailor who shot down, or may have assisted in shooting down a Japanese airplane and assisted a wounded comrade in the same action should also receive a Medal of Honor, right?

And BTW the USN never hushed up his Navy Cross award, in fact he went on several tours of training installations to provide a little morale lifting. A cautionary note here, there are some so desperate to change the award that they are willing to cast aspersions in any direction for the unwary to believe, such as the Navy hiding Miller's Navy Cross award.

Frankly, I find the entire concept of "we have to have this guy's award" a little distasteful and smacks of out of control afficiandos and enthusiasts. Nothing personal, just my opinion. I can think of quite a few people who, had folks been paying greater attention, probably deserved a Medal of Honor and were not so awarded.

On the other hand, there was Marc Mitscher, who wanted the Medal of Honor for every pilot in VT-8 and the Navy Cross for the rear gunners. And what about all those fellows lost with VT-6 and VT-3? Were they not at least as deserving? And what about any one else lost in an attack on an enemy ship?

Then you have the one Medal of Honor that was awarded for action at Midway that everyone thinks was awarded for one reason, yet absolutely and categorically was not, and it is entirely unlikely that the popular reasoning for the award never happened.

Nope, sorry, doesn't wash.

Rich

 

Well tend to agree, just suggesting that Doris' case is more sound than Winters'.

 

Hi WOT, thanks for the Winters info and also about Dorie Miller. If I recall correctly-he served in the Galley of one of the Battleships-Arizona possibly? I've always felt he got shafted from recieving something he clearly earned-due to him being a black person. I also think that there ought to be a way to vote on things like this-and in which the powers-that-be here in the States-and or also in the UK for that matter-would see petitions about nominees for the nations highest awards.

Best regards-and I owe you reps as well as salutes-soon as the site allows me to give them to you.

I would write to obama with my request for Dorie Miller to be posthumously awarded his MoH-but I doubt obama even knows what one is.

 

The award you are looking for is the "Navy Cross". There is nothing that I have read or seen that inclines me to support Winters for the MoH. Albeit he was a model of leadership and is revered by his men his actions do not merit the MoH.

 

My point exactly.

 

I tend to agree with this view..........I think much of the fuss surrounding Winters is coming from the BoB series and how he is protrayed. - A great leader, respected by his men (and me) ......but not a candidate for the MoH.

In fact he should probually be left alone and allowed to be in peace with his family and friends ..... he's a humble man who probually dislikes all the attention - especially at his age nowadays.

 

exactly

 

Medal of Honor is not an award for meritorious service or exceptional gallantry. It is medal awarding those who had shown heroic courage "above or beyond the call of duty"... which people seem to have a problem remembering. Could that be too much MoH gaming?

 

Winters was nominated for the MoH in 44. It was downgraded to a Distiguished service cross. IMO the subject has been discussed by the military and decided his actions were not worthy of our countries highest honor. Case closed.

 

Well on a similarly cynical angle he doesn't have to, it's the key phrase "unappreciated brave black serviceman" which would be likely to win the argument eh?

 

Are you talking about Dorie Miller? If so, I never said his Navy Cross was hushed up and did already know about his appearances wearing that award. But--what I mean exactly is that because of many circumstances that happened that kept him from even being nominated for that highest award--that Millers case SHOULD be reviewed and given the same attention that several other WWII black soldiers got when they were awarded MoHs by slick willy clinton. Why should Dorie Miller be excluded from that exclusive club? and the same considerations.

I agree, many others most likely deserved being awarded MoHs but were not for whatever unknown reasons? Some reasons were probably as petty as things like the Co didn't like the man-orthe man was a known loafer-but had done a deed(s) that warrented him getting the MoH-to skin color and whatever else. But the fact still remains-that IMO-Dorie Miller deserves to at least be nominated for the MoH. Also,I absolutely hate it when the MoH is called the Congressional MoH-not that im saying you said that-or anyone else on this site.

The differance is huge-between all of those Pilots being nominated for and recieving the MoH. Those men were trained combat personnel-Dorie Miller did not have near as much training as he should have had-partly because he was not a white man. Ther is no doubt at all-that can make someone question his bravery as well as the bravery of those pilots. The circumstances are quite huge and wide apart in comparison.

And it does wash with me. Dorie Miller basically was nothing but "a Kitchen boy" to use the terms of yesterday to describe his military duties and is meant not to belittle any Americans of African descent.

Sorry if I sound rude to you-it is not meant.

Best regards-Carl.

 

Hi Wot--well said and I agree with you.;-)) I also agree that Maj Winters probably should not get the MoH but it would not ruin my day if he was awarded one;-)) I think the vastness of the situations between Winters and Millers cases-seals my beliefs that Dorie Miller should get the MoH. I don't remember who stated it above about the reasons why someone should get the MoH-but to me-it seals it for me that if there was a choice I could make in awarding a MoH to two men-but were only going to award one MoH--Dorie Miller fits that bill more than Winters does.

Personally, i'd like to see both of them get it but feel that Miller deserves it more than Winters does.

Best regards-Carl.

 

Perhaps we should start parallel campaigns to get retrospective VCs awarded to Colonel John Frost and Major John Howard for their deeds at Arnhem and Pegasus Bridge respectively.

I'm sure this would be supported by the esteemed Gunny if a TV mini series was made about them.

Richie