Letter to the Pentagon - Ranking Medals of Honor

Letter

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-17) today sent a letter to the Pentagon questioning its recent decision to rank the new Distinguished Warfare Medal, awarded to operators of unmanned aerial vehicles, above traditional combat valor medals in the military's order of precedence.

Rooney urged the Department of Defense to consult with veterans organizations as it reconsiders its decision.

"Like many fellow veterans in my district and across the country, I have grave concerns with the recent announcement by the Department of Defense that the new Distinguished Warfare Medal will rank above traditional combat valor medals, like the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, in the military's order of precedence," Rooney wrote.

"Our veterans who put their lives on the line in the battlefield should not be made to believe that their sacrifices are not are not sufficiently valued by our nation's military or its government."

Rooney served in the Army and sits on the House Intelligence Committee.

Complete text of the letter below:

Hon. Jessica Wright
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
4000 Defense Pentagon, Room 3E985
Washington D.C., 20301

Dear Ms. Wright:

Like many fellow veterans in my district and across the country, I have grave concerns with the recent announcement by the Department of Defense that the new Distinguished Warfare Medal will rank above traditional combat valor medals, like the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, in the military's order of precedence.

As an Army veteran and Member of the House Committee on Intelligence, I fully appreciate and am truly grateful for the contributions of our military men and women away from the battlefield. I support the creation of a medal to honor members of the military whose extraordinary achievements directly impacted combat operations. However, I firmly believe there is no greater sacrifice than risking your own life to save another on the battlefield, and that the order of precedence should appropriately reflect the reverence we hold for those willing to make that sacrifice.

Our veterans who put their lives on the line in the battlefield should not be made to believe that their sacrifices are not are not sufficiently valued by our nation's military or its government. I strongly urge the Department to reconsider its decision to honor the achievements required to receive the Distinguished Warfare Medal above those required to receive combat valor medals like the Bronze Star or Purple Heart. I further encourage the Department to seek out and fully consider the opinions of veterans' organizations, like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, as it reviews this decision.

I thank you for your consideration in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Drew Shoemaker in my office at (202) 225-5792.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Rooney
Member of Congress

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