The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum

Re: about time
In Response To: about time ()

I really have to disagree with this whole concept. It's a bad idea, and shouldn't be allowed to happen.

I have nothing against Alonzo Cushing. I don't doubt that he was a very brave man. I don't doubt that he deserved a Medal of Honor. But to give him one 150 years after the fact, fifty years after everyone who witnessed the incident is dead in their graves, just sets a very bad precedent.

Sure, his actions deserved the award. But, so did the actions of thousands of other men who fought in that war. The ORs are full of such incidents, as are regimental histories, letters home, etc etc. So, do we give them all their medals? Or do we just give the medals to men who have good public relations machines working for them? And to begin with, Alonzo is dead. He's not being honored. He's not getting a medal. His great-great-grandkids are having a hell of an ego trip about now, but Alonzo gets nothing from this that he didn't already have from the original recording of the story.

No, unless everyone who deserves the award gets it, this is just a political exercise. And if everyone who did deserve the Medal did get it - remembering, of course, that the MOH of that day was the equivalent of a Bronze Star, or a Silver Star, or a Navy Cross, or whatever other combat decoration you might want to mention - so many people would have it that it wouldn't mean much.

This is just so much political posturing. Alonzo Cushing had the opportunity to get a Medal of Honor. His CO didn't do the paperwork, nor did anyone else in his company. It's sad, but it happens. To give him one now just makes a mockery of his actions that day. I think Alonzo Cushing was a much better man than the people who are giving him this award.

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