WASHINGTON — Eight years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
About 4,000 members of the U.S. military killed in action. More than 34,000 wounded. Six considered worthy of America’s highest military award for battlefield valor.
For some veterans and members of Congress, that last number doesn’t add up.
They question how so few Medals of Honor — all six were awarded posthumously — could be bestowed for wars of such magnitude and duration.
Pentagon officials say the nature of war has changed.
Laser-guided missiles destroy enemy positions without putting soldiers in harm’s way. Insurgents deploy roadside bombs rather than engage in firefights.
Those explanations don’t tell the whole story, said Rep. Duncan Hunter, a first-term lawmaker who served combat tours as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has sponsored legislation that directs the defense secretary to review current trends in awarding the Medal of Honor to determine what is behind the low count.
The bill passed the House. If Senate negotiators go along, Secretary Robert Gates would have to report back by March 31.
“It seems like our collective standard for who gets the Medal of Honor has been raised,” said Hunter, R-Calif.
Military officials said they welcome the opportunity to conduct an in-depth review of the award process. Still, they dispute Hunter’s theory.
“Nominations go through no more or less scrutiny than in the past,” said Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman. “The standard for the Medal of Honor is high, as one would expect for our nation’s most prestigious military decoration.”
AMVETS, a veterans advocacy group, said it supports Hunter’s efforts. It held a banquet for Medal of Honor recipients in January, and the low number of medals was a big topic of discussion, said Jay Agg, the group’s communications director.
Drew Dix, 64, of Mimbres, N.M., received the medal for actions taken during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam when he risked his life during a 56-hour battle to rescue civilians. He said he didn’t feel comfortable judging the current Medal of Honor process.
“We’ve trusted the military to fight this war,” Dix said. “We’ve got to trust the military in all aspects of it, including the awarding of medals.”
Jack Jacobs, 64, received the award for actions taken in Vietnam to rescue wounded soldiers. He said the Pentagon’s explanation for the low Medal of Honor count is logical, but he would not rule out other factors because of the subjective nature of the award.
“I’m not a fan of single-factor analysis,” Jacobs said. “There are lots of reasons why things occur, and that is only one of them. Human attitudes also play a great role.”
Jacobs, a military analysis at MSNBC, predicted the war in Afghanistan will involve more of the kind of close combat that leads to Medal of Honor awards.
It is unclear exactly how many soldiers have been nominated for the award from the two wars.
Honoring valor
How many awards: The Medal of Honor has been awarded 3,467 times since the Civil War. Almost half — 1,522 — were awarded in that conflict alone. The next highest tally came from World War II — 464. In the Vietnam War, 244 were awarded.
To earn the medal: At least two eyewitnesses must view a deed so outstanding that it distinguishes gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. No margin of doubt is allowed. Nominations make their way through military channels until eventually they are approved at the highest levels of the Pentagon and then by the president.
Six recipients in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:
Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Navy. Led a four-member team against between 30 and 40 Taliban fighters in the vicinity of Asadabad, Afghanistan.
Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Marine Corps. Near Karabilah, Iraq, Dunham covered a grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his colleagues from the blast.
Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis, Army. He covered the live grenade that fell into his vehicle in northeast Baghdad, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, Navy. In Ramadi, Iraq, he threw himself onto a grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of two teammates.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Army. Near Baghdad, Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and he organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier.
Staff Sgt. Jared C. Monti, Army. He was shot as he attempted for a third time to rescue a wounded comrade while conducting combat operations in the mountains near Gowardesh, Afghanistan.
