Rift Between Medal of Honor Recipients Exposed by Dan Lamothe, Marine Corps Times. There has always been at least some controversy concerning MOH nominations and the ultimate recipients. The fog of combat does that sometimes. Okay, we get it, quit beating a dead horse - especially making this a US Army vs. US Marine Corps issue. Army Capt. Will Swenson and Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer fought side-by-side in a vicious 2009 battle in Afghanistan. God bless them both - and for all - let’s not drag the MOH through some speculative “if it bleeds, it leads”- type of dirty journalism. Leave that to Rolling Stone and their ilk.
Comments
Lamothe has a history of writing for the sensational headline, like the pieces on female Marines attending IOC and "flunking". When the Commandant called him on it and invited him to attend the program of instruction right next to the students, Lamothe stated that he felt it would be improper to be a focus of attention by running though he course.
I call it copping out.
The MC Times really is just trash, even though it published a letter to the editor I sent in years ago.
Yes, very much like the Enquirer.
To all commenting here---if I am not mistaken did not another news organization break this story a number of times over the last year or so since their journalist was on the ground with the ambushed unit/in the kill zone as well and had written about his doubts I think at least three times in the last two years.
There is another side of this story that really needs to get looked at but has been swept under the rug with the MOH award---just who in the heck sidetracked and erased the award submission for the CPT---yes the SecDef apologized BUT who did really kill the overall award and WHY was it killed is a far better story.
Also questions raised by the news agency journalist about the book released by the Marine MOH winner about a number of issues he himself wrote needs also to be looked at.
As a DSC/SS SF VN veteran I can tell you today 45 years later every small detail of those two 12 hour long fights---one does not forgot nor does one embellish---even down to the smell of the wet dirt is so locked in.
The events themselves will always speak for themselves but I am just as curious why the embellishments and a big book deal when the same book company could have approached the CPT who was much longer involved inside the kill zone as was the Marine.
We need a far larger discussion of Iraq/AFG awards---the sheer numbers of various awards is surprising when one compares them to the VN period---compare the numbers of say DSC/SS/BSVs awarded in the last two wars against VN ratio numbers. Check the math---it was harder to be awarded the top valor medals in VN.
Check the number of combat patrol medals issued the last seven years vs say the CIB in the last two wars---in VN there was no combat patrol medal---only those authorized for the CIB got them---even though countless drivers/engineers fought everyday as infantrymen.
On convoy---then an IED goes off and the whole convoy gets awards--how can that be?
same for the combat patch-in VN you had to wait until the completion of your combat tour in order to wear the combat patch of your unit---now 90 days in country, formal ceremony and presto a combat patch.
E-mail reply from Dan Lamothe, Marine Corps Times, posted here with his permission:
Dave,
Good afternoon. This is Dan Lamothe with Marine Corps Times. I'm a Small Wars Journal fan, and have corresponded in the past with Bill Ardolino.
I wanted to drop you a line after seeing your blog post about my latest story on Sgt. Dakota Meyer and Capt. Will Swenson. As you may know, I have covered the Battle of Ganjgal and its aftermath since 2009, and broke the news in 2010 that Meyer had been put up by the Corps for the Medal of Honor. I've developed a good working relationship with Dakota since, and am friendly with a number of the Gold Star families created that day.
I don't like where this story has gone any more than you. Nevertheless, I would be laying down on the job if I did not follow up on a front-page piece in the Washington Post that explores Swenson's skepticism of Meyer. It was out there in black and white, and it was only fair to all involved to provide more context and reaction to what the Post reported.
I spoke to Dakota and several Gold Star family members last night. They appreciated the chance to respond, and Dakota shared my story via his Twitter account today. I also have repeatedly sought to interview Swenson, but he has declined several times.
Just thought you'd want to hear some background on how the story came to be.
Best,
Dan
Here is another a reason the Marine Corps Times and it's sister papers is consider only slightly resource better than the National Enquirer.
It was business choice to write (rehash?) an old story with a provocative title in order to drive traffic to the site and catch eyes on the news stand.
The information should have been more appropriately included in an article focusing on Capt Swenson receiving the Medal of Honor.
I agree with this sentiment. I read the article with interest yesterday, but I was more than uneasy reading it. It was like being unable to turn away from watching a train wreck. What was the most puzzling was that the article went out of the way to say that all concerned agreed that even if the inaccuracies were corrected, Myers still deserved the MOH. So, other than in the interests of truth, what is the fight about? Is there even a fight?
I did wonder at one point about the implication that the USMC embellished the account to ensure approval. Somehow, I don't actually put it beyond them considering that around the time of this battle there was some considerable ink spilled on the subject of the MOH being a death medal in these wars.
Anyway, I still agree, this article didn't benefit any one or any thing.