Poor Paul Rieckhoff a victim of the machine
You probably remember the discussion about poor Paul Rieckhoff who was wearing a Bronze Star Medal he was never awarded to an interview for pictures at his alma mater. Well, he’s nearly in tears about it in the Military Times (sorry, I don’t link to them anymore because their senior editor, Tobias Naegele is a cowardly, backstabbing pussy) because the Army never gave him his orders;
Bronze Star snafu reveals valor system flaw
By Andrew Tilghman – Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 23, 2012 7:13:12 EDTIt’s been more than eight years since former Army 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff returned from Iraq — and he’s still not sure whether the Army awarded him a Bronze Star.
In 2004, his command told him he would be awarded the medal for meritorious service. When he left the Army that year, the medal was clearly listed on his DD 214 discharge form.
But he said he never received an official citation or saw the orders confirming the medal. And despite repeated phone calls, the Army was never able to clarify what happened with the follow-up documentation.
“My paperwork is screwed up, no doubt about that. And I’m sure I’m not the only one,” Rieckhoff said in a recent interview.
Rieckhoff, founder and executive director of the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, is not a guy you’d expect to be stonewalled by the military’s bureaucracy.
[…]For Rieckhoff, the question hit home recently when he was accused by bloggers of improperly wearing the Bronze Star in a 2004 photo taken for his college alumni magazine.
Rieckhoff said the photo was taken during the brief period before he began to have concerns about the award’s documentation. He notes that he no longer wears the award or claims publicly to have earned it. His official bio on the IAVA website makes no mention of a Bronze Star.
[…]
Yeah, well, the article doesn’t address the fact that there were no orders for the medal, it wasn’t on his NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service and yet it still showed up on his DD214 somehow. How would a clerk know to put it on the DD214 without any orders or citation? Are clerks just psychic about that stuff? And Rieckhoff signed his discharge, so it’s not like he couldn’t have any answers about how it got there. And I guess the Special Forces unit patch he was wearing in the picture doesn’t even get a mention.
I’m not surprised that Military Times won’t ask Rieckhoff the hard questions a journalist should ask so they can properly inform the public, in this case members of the military, they’re the product of their cowardly, backstabbing, punk-ass, sissy senior editor, Tobias Naegele.
Category: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Yeah they forgot my Bronze Star too back in 1998.
I mean those tanks weren’t going to fix themselves. I was elbow deep in grease, no chow for 6 hours, not even a smoke break. But we got the job done.
Screw ’em, Paulie. I am with you.
He’s not sure? Memo to Paul–if you’re not sure, and you have no orders for it, you haven’t. End of story.
@2…wait wait wait.
Are you telling me if I am not sure that I am married to Scarlet Johannsne then I am not? For realsies?
Well hell…what have I been working for all this time?
And the SF unit patch….
Yet another IVAW issue…..
TSO–to be fair, there was that time I was wearing a Trident until the CO of BUD/S called me and we mutually agreed I wouldn’t make a very good SEAL.
Wait a sec–never happened. Shit, I got nuthin. Paul, you’re fuller of shit than a Thanksgiving turkey.
“Rieckhoff, founder and executive director of the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, is not a guy you’d expect to be stonewalled by the military’s bureaucracy.”
We’ve all had to fight the bureaucracy, but Rieckhoff’s need to link his personal aspirations with military accolades has just too many discrepencies to merely blame on the Army. Sewing on a SF patch without orders to an SF unit, then sitting for a photo op, is just plain not done. Throw in everything else and you get too slick of a pattern of mistakes, errors, and snafus.
@2
Right on.
Shame on the Military Times for turning Rieckhoff’s apparent malfeasance (or at least shadyness) into his own personal advocacy forum without even using a spoon to dig deeper into this mess.
I thought all Officers serving in a Combat Zone got a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service?
Hey, without Paul, I would never have met And had beers with Megadeth’s lead singer Dave Mustaine last year. Beyond that I got nothin
I thought all Officers serving in a Combat Zone got a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service?
Being Navy, I wouldn’t know, but your comment reminds me of the first Delta House scene from Animal House:
He said combat officers usually get Bronze Stars automatically.
Oh, well, usually. Unless the officer in question turns out to be a real closet-case.
Like Paul.
@8: Many do, but it’s not universal. Some units play obvious favorites, and some go overboard (both ways) on handing out/restricting BSMs. I know of folks who left theater with a CAB and a MSM – and of folks who served in Kuwait and left with a BSM.
#8,
It seems that way, but I’ve seen a few ORBs and officers in uniform who got an ARCOM, some seemingly squared away. I guess it depends on the command philosophy.
The BSM for merit is a pretty award, but for a “veterans’ advocate” who has long since left the uniform, why worry. It’s a trinket, nothing more, nothing less. Recently I’ve been outspoken (only semi-jokingly) about retiring with what I have now as an E-6 with ten years–three each ARCOM and AAM. The BSM for merit and the MSM have respectively become expected in-theater and PCS awards for all E-7s and higher. I think extraordinary feat and service should warrant awards, not “I was there” periods of service.
Hmmm. Had my share of this and that awarded over the years (nothing as significant as a BS) but never considered putting anything on a rack of ribbons for which I had not been given some paperwork ordering me to do so. Even at that – it sometimes was years later before updating the rack. Simply cannot imagine the mindset of one who would wear an award without having been ordered to so so.
Here’s a clue – a DD214 is NOT an order. But any officer would know that.
About that SF patch. Again, why would anyone sew one on without an order? Dang, taking those patches off and on is no fun, and can really screw up a uniform. Seems like an officer would be particularly protective of messing up uniforms which he must purchase himself.
Nope. Not buying any of it. Makes no sense unless it was just a costume for a photo opp.
The BSM is awarded by rank in my experience. My last tour in Iraq I was a PSG and I put 2 of my Squad Leaders in for the BSM. I was told because they were SSGs that I could only put them in for ARCOMs. I told my 1SG that the DA 638 still had to go up for higher to either approve, disaprove or downgrade. After submiting them numerous times I was told that “they” would write the award. Both my Squad Leaders got ARCOMs. I am far from the only PSG that this happened to.
14…I’ve seen that same thing when I recommended one of my soldiers for a PCS award of an ARCOM (he was a SPC at the time in 2002). I fought tooth and nail, quoted the regs, etc. but, in the end, the squad leader ended up writing the award recommendation for an AAM because our company commander was a douche that wouldn’t even look at it because it was an ARCOM recommendation and not an AAM. To give you and idea of the caliber of soldier he is…since leaving my fire team, he has successfully attended and passed BAC, Ranger School, SFAS, and SFQC and, as of the last time I spoke with him a couple years ago, was promoted to SFC.
Wish I knew how to get ahold of him now (he changed his number) because I’d love to get back in touch and see how he’s doing
#15,
I saw the same with some of my Soldiers in The Old Guard. I put them in for ARCOMs after leading them for over three years and watching them perform a multitude of high-profile missions to an exacting standard. New PL didn’t like them and ensured they were downgraded to AAMs.
A former PSG PCS’ed from there with an ARCOM instead of the MSM most PSGs are given. He’d served as Commander of the Relief at the Tomb as an E-6 and was a SFC for at least a year before he left. Didn’t matter, I guess he didn’t have the right friends.
#13,
Maybe he was just overly excited about being a potential BSM awardee and SF Soldier? The only patch I took off as soon as I got to a gaining unit (not before) was the USAREC Army patch.
Our team had the award fight as well, we were small and, working with NATO, were ADCON’d to US unit who had no idea who we were. So guys who were outside the wire working with the ANA every day, who were running in MATVs all over RC-C and RC-E on a regular basis, and who did their best within some odd constraints to leave Afghanistan better than we found it were told in no uncertain terms that only a certain number of each award could be given. Our OIC had to fight with the ADCON unit to get a BSM for the E8 S4 mentor (and who without a doubt earned it) because, “he already has two.” I wear my JCOM happily along with the award presented to me by the NATO nation I worked with. I know where I was, I know what I did, and that I won’t have to stare into my beer when asked what I did to earn my awards.
As for this guy, I am going to buy him a wooden cross so he can climb up and nail himself to it. If you didn’t get orders with it, you didn’t get it. This isn’t WWII where Patton is walking around pinning on medals with paperwork to follow. He should have known better especially considering the Ivy League education he received.
I do believe that Jonathan was being a bit facetious.
I can give someone a bit of an alibi on their DD-214, because my last one that I received in the mail isn’t correct. I got one almost three years ago that was correct but for some reason my latest one is all screwed up. I wasn’t present to sign it and all of the awards are dicked up, hell if I went off of that I would look retarded as hell. I could explain the long story as to why…I just need to call the guy at state and see about getting stuff fixed.
I got awarded my CAB 4 years late.
I was given orders and a DD215.
It is far easier to fub the 214 than it is to fake orders. I’m thinking some harassed overworked clerk made a small typo and he convinced himself that he was awarded the BSM. Stranger things have happened. As far as the SF patch I got nothin. That’s just plain wrong and there’s no give or take about it
I was eating breakfast in the mess hall of the 501st Signal Battalion at Camp Eagle, Republic of Viet Nam (near Hue and Phu Bai), when someone yelled out that I had been awarded the Bronze Star Medal. I’m not the smartest guy around, so I’m used to other guys pulling my leg and yanking my chain, or whatever. So, I thought they were joking, and I laughed. Then they handed me the orders, with my name underlined in red pencil. It was no joke. It was REAL! Of course, I don’t have a good war story to go along with it, so no, I don’t REALLY deserve that medal. But, it sure LOOKS neat, huh? Anyway, time passed, and eventually, the 101st Airborne Division left Viet Nam as a unit, with all of us being assigned to different posts and different units, as the Army did NOT want us to stay together, or so I was told. When processing out in Da Nang, I was asked if there were any awards I hadn’t yet received. I told the clerk I’d not yet received my Bronze Star Medal or my Army Commendation Medal. So, he asked for my orders, and I showed them to him. He reached into a footlocker behind him and handed me the medals. I asked him if I could also have the certificates and citations which accompany those medals. He got out some blank forms, typed in my name, et cetera, and handed them to me. And that was how I got decorated. Now, if ONLY I had a nice war story to tell – – – ? Oh, speaking of war stories, everyone assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in the Republic of Viet Nam was required to complete S.E.R.T.S. (i.e., Screaming Eagle Replacement Training School), also known as “P” training, at Camp Evans (located off QL-1 between Hue and Quang Tri). Our “Black Hat” tactical instructor began our training by instructing us on the proper way to tell a war story. All war stories must begin, “There I was – – – “. Then… Read more »
At the conclusion of the Battle of Truong Luong, in 1966, my battalion XO told me personally he was putting me in for a Bronze Star. When I left the unit later that year, I still hadn’t heard anything more and never did. It didn’t help that the XO and I later crossed horns over the Bn CO halting artillery interdiction fires just because he was shitfaced, snake-mean drunk and didn’t like the noise the firing battery was making. XO said I was disrespectful. Yeah I was…of a damned colonel, drunk in combat, who was jeopardizing his battalion and should have been relieved of his command.
I sure as hell wasn’t gonna beg for that star and I wouldn’t think of claiming or wearing it now even though I probably did earn it. It’s real simple:
No orders…no award…no right to wear.
Mistakes DO get made with Army bureaucracy and paperwork.
I remember reading in the PACIFIC STARS AND STRIPES newspaper that there was a blanket order awarding every soldier and every marine who was in Viet Nam the Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry, with Palm, unit award.
So, for years, that was the only unit award that I wore on the right breast of my uniform.
Then, a few years ago, I got a copy of the “101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION ‘SCREAMING EAGLES'” history (because I’m in it, on Page 269).
When I read the history of my own unit, the 501st Signal Battalion, I was surprised to see that I was entitled to wear two additional unit awards, i.e., the Meritorious Unit Ribbon, and the Republic of Viet Nam Civic Action Honor Medal Unit Award.
No one ever told me about it, not in Viet Nam, or Stateside, nor did I ever see any paperwork, nor is it listed on my DD-214 or Form 20.
The only way I know about it is because I read the history of my unit, which listed the unit awards for that particular time period.
The only thing Paul Dickoff is a victim of is…Paul Dickoff. It’s all about that fucking ego, man.
Showing up to a photoshoot rocking an electric butterknife when he didn’t even have orders to go to 19th SFG says it all, at least fort me.
Fuck him.
(Sorry for the excessive use of F bombs and other adjectives today…I’m on Day 1 of quitting smoking and not a happy dude)
I think some guys get mixed up and confuse the Bronze Star Medal with the Bronze Service Star on their campaign medal(s).
I’ve seen this repeatedly when reading obituaries, because civilians don’t know the difference when looking at a DD-214.
They see the words, “Bronze Star”, and automatically assume its the Bronze Star Medal.
JP, don’t worry…fuck fuckity fuck fuck….they haven’t ever censored me and I have said a lot worse in my time here.
I always look at it this way, my grandfather was an infantryman during WWII and I have more medals than he did, so I am doing quite well.
In reference to military bureaucratic goofs, since leaving active duty, I’ve been awarded two additional medals, the Korea Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, neither of which would appear on my DD-214 or Form 20, because I’d already been discharged. When the Disabled American Veterans service officer showed me the paperwork listing the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, I thought a mistake had been made. So, I looked up the requirements in my 1970 edition of the “NONCOM’S GUIDE” (which is my most reliable reference on anything and everything), and found that I was indeed authorized that medal, and that the Army had not made a mistake. As for the Korea Defense Service Medal, all you guys who served in Korea probably know that story, for we’re all in the same boat. Congress authorized that brand new medal, but said it was up to each of the Services to locate and award the medal to those eligible to receive it. Well, you know that can’t happen, because there’s just too many of us, and nobody knows where we disappeared to after leaving the Service, right? Even the Pentagon admits it’ll never be able to find all those guys who are eligible for that award, because it’s just too impractical, what with ANOTHER war going on, plus manpower reductions and budget restraints. So, this is one of those cases where you do award yourself the medal. My service in the Republic of Korea is documented on my DD-214 and on my Form 20, plus I have certificates from training I completed while in Korea, AND I’m also in the yearbook of the 142d Military Police Company. Actually, I had already received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Forces Service Medal for my service in Korea, and was among the last ones to receive it, for after I left Korea, the Army stopped awarding that medal, which is probably what motivated Congress to create a new medal. According to what was published by the Army (and I read everything I could find on this subject), guys like me who had previously been… Read more »
Did any of you guys (if you’re OLD enough) get your CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION for serving during the Cold War?
Well, there is also a medal, which has never been authorized.
However, there are two exceptions for this “unauthorized” Cold War Victory Medal.
Cold War veterans serving in the Louisiana National Guard have been authorized to wear the Cold War Victory Medal.
Cold War veterans serving in the Alaska National Guard may wear the ribbon, but not the medal.
No orders for a BSM or for 19th SFG(A), but the “leader” of Troops, an officer and “a gentleman” (by order of Congress) chose to wear them for a photoshoot and media interview, promoting himself!?!?!
This was an indication of his morals, of his standards, and of his future actions. It was self-serving. It was a shortcut to fame. It was self-aggrandizing. It was stupid.
The Army Times, a subsidiary of Gannett Corp, aka USA Today and several regional newspapers, decided to make it out as though he is a martyr in the Papercut Wars of the DoD, and even as powerful man as he can’t get the answers he wants. That’s no real surprise. Gannett has a habit of supporting the current party in power, and its articles in the military “Times” often reflect that bias.
The REAL question should be how a “leader” can misrepresent the truth, and maintain his position at the top of a “VSO?” About 2 decades ago, a Naval Officer committed suicide because he was caught wearing a medal he wasn’t authorized but had every reason to believe he had been awarded. The reason Rieckhoff has no fear of being ousted as “Chief Executive” of the IAVA, is because he has sole authority to appoint positions within an organization he created to support the politics of his own. I don’t propose that PR commit suicide, but he should immediately resign his position and quietly leave the public forum, for good.
As he won’t likely do so, but will continue to look for media allies of his politics to whitewash his misdeeds, I would propose that anyone that had previously taken a “free,” non-voting membership in the IAVA send in their “resignation” and demand that the partisan organization quit counting them as such in their publicity propaganda.
I don’t see why this guy even gives a shit about what he earned or didn’t earn. He shits on the uniform IMO, so what does it matter to him if he didn’t earn a medal?
@28 — What in the world is a “Cold War Victory Medal”?
Another IVAW clown bites the dust. And with an Amherst education, no less.
Maybe he should have returned that BSM instead of the GWOT.
Money well spent.
NG Turd.
That’s a little strange, but you really do have to watch what you sign at discharge, and not act as hastily as I did… For example, I was awarded the Army Commendation Medal from 13th COSCOM – I have the signed document from LTC Suttler, but the actual award doesn’t show up on my DD-214. Neither does the Iraq Campaign Medal or even my two physical deployments to Iraq, since I was connected to other commands or mpads. I’m lucky enough that I was a journalist, so my proof was in the stories that I wrote while deployed. But for others without that kind of proof, it has to be difficult.
It doesn’t sound strange at all. When I went to do my DD 214 stuff the admin added on a Good Conduct Medal; now I could have let it slide since I know I never got an article 15 etc., and should have been awarded but I knew I wasn’t awarded a GCM. I corrected the admin and it was taken off my DD 214. So IMO this d-bag figured he earned it although he was already awarded an ARCOM for it and convinced the admin to put it on… or he knew that his DD 214 was inaccurate and signed it anyways. Then put the ribbon on his rack.
EX-PH2, Et Alii:
Just Google “COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL”, and you’ll see it.
There’s actually two different versions, but neither is autherized, for Congress has yet to approve of it.
Still, as I stated, the Louisiana National Guard is authorized to wear the medal, while the Alaska National Guard is authorized to wear the ribbon.
There is a movement organized to TRY and get the COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL approved,because not everybody who served during the Cold War received the National Defense Service Medal, and the CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION for serving in the Cold War is also awarded to civilians.
The web site is:
http://www.americancoldwarvets.org/
Maybe that will help.
To get your CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION for serving during the Cold War, just contact the Pentagon or the United States Army, as the United States Army is in charge of awarding it to ALL the eligible veterans, regardless of branch of service.
I left the Guard recently and my BSM was not on my NGB 22, but it was on my DD214 from Iraq. I have the original award citation and the certificate is framed in my house. There are pictures of me getting the award pinned on me by the BG.
Here are pictures of the two versions of the still unauthorized COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL:
http://www.americancoldwarvets.org/victory_medal.html
Sorry guys, I don’t understand. When ‘they’ gave my “Good Boy” medal, they called me out in front of Charlie co. and handed me a box with the medal and the purdy paper that said ‘you done good and now have the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal’. I still got the purdy paper! This was back when they used stone slabs and chisels to write out your citation!? What’s that fishy smell?
I believe his story. They handed out Bronze Stars like candy in my unit, especially to those accused of sexual harassment. Also, all kinds of paperwork got screwed up for all kinds of awards, all over the place.
Honestly, I don’t know how some of you summon the brain power to turn your computers on. Seriously. This isn’t about screwed up paperwork or candy-flavored BSMs. He got an award of an ARCOM for his tour of Iraq…so why did he get a BSM? There were no orders so how did the BSM end up on his DD214? The ONLY record of a BSM is on his DD214 and Rieckhoff was in the room when they typed it up. And, did the orders for his Special Forces unit patch get screwed up, too? I swear. Your personal experiences don’t count in this case, unless your personal experiences are with a heavy-handed, bully, jackass 1st LT like Rieckhoff.
I just read the article and I am very disappointed in Mr. Rieckhoff. I know he was in OIF as a Guardsman attached to an AD Division and probably during that time, end of tour awards were processed probably poorly by their BDE S1 but there is usually a ceremony before you leave theater to you receive your award. They did not do that in his case? Did he leave Iraq early before the 3ID redeployed?
I received an ARCOM as an E-6 MP and received a CAB in Iraq. My boot 2LT received a BSM and a CAB for about two ops outside the wire while working at the detention facility the majority of the tour.
I am an officer now and received an MSM on my last deployment and I knew command group 2LTs receiving AAMs for their year deployment because they never had an award before.
I am downrange again and I do not know what I am going to get with five months remaining. Probably an AAM lol.
But Rieckhoff as an infantry LT who did outside the wire OPS during the beginning of OIF; yes I believe he deserves it but I am not his recommender to say. Perhaps, his article is trying to generate sympathy to get one pushed for him since he leans towards the liberal agenda.
It is not a medal snafu; he simply did not get written for one. If it was initially a BSM and downgraded to an ARCOM; the initial 368 will show that. Where is that paperwork? How was that processed without him having the hard copy?
I have nearly 15 years active duty with 23 years of service to my country and served in the NYARNG back in the 80s and written many awards for my soldiers. I been deployed for three combat deployments so I know how the system works.
I guess I cant edit my post but I meant 638 not 368 and I forgot to mention that there was E-6 SL MPs that did receive the BSM during my tour.
@ post #29 bravo for your post about “As he won’t likely do so, but will continue to look for media allies of his politics to whitewash his misdeeds, I would propose that anyone that had previously taken a “free,” non-voting membership in the IAVA send in their “resignation” and demand that the partisan organization quit counting them as such in their publicity propaganda.”
Yes, I signed up for IAVA but many of their views I did not agree with. I was not for the repeal of DADT and was shocked when I watched Paul on Rachel Maddow. I realized that the organization probably was not for me.
@post28. Yes, I received the cold war certificate and saw that there was legislation for the medal but it never happened. I would like to see that passed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War_Victory_Medal
I am active duty Army now but came in the 80s so I guess I have to retire in the LANG to get it hahaha
Army Regulation 635–5 Separation Documents Paragraph 2-3.h.(13) reads: DECORATIONS, MEDALS, BADGES, CITATIONS AND CAMPAIGN RIBBONS AWARDED OR AUTHORIZED. List awards and decorations for all periods of service in the priority sequence specified in AR 600-8-22. Each entry will be verified by the soldier’s records. Do not use abbreviations.
From a Former S1-
Vets: your Official Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ) is likely in storage at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO.
If you’re trying to locate an official record of service, decoration or award, you’ll find help at these sites: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/index.html and http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/public/
US Soldier Combat Vet: Rieckhoff did in fact receive an EOT award from the AD brigade to which he was assigned/attached during OIF. It was an ARCOM. I’ve seen the certificate.
How the BSM got on his DD214 is unknown. But it appears unsupported by his official records.
You might want to read this article
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=30749
which gives background.
We’re waiting for a FOIA from NPRC to summarize Rieckhoff’s actual service, based on his official records. We’ve already received them from the states in which he performed ARNG duty. So far, no orders/cert for a BSM. Only the questionable entry on his DD214 – which would almost certainly be for the same period as for which he received his ARCOM.
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