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before we "traded up" to the 9mm, was the 1911(or whatever they were calling it) ever upgraded to a larger mag? I think it only held 7 rds?

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

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The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

M1911A1 was the military designation of the legendary Colt .45 auto.

Several manufacturers make extended capacity magazines. Any soldier interested could have bought them for his own personal use, but in line units the issued magazines were always 7rds.

Quite a lot of the guys in my Bn had bought high cap mags(Beta drums and the Eagle 40 or 35rd mags) for the M-16, early aimpoint electrinic sights(mostly 1000s, but my spotter laid out the big bucks for an Aimpoint2000), etc. I bought my own scope for my M-21, a Bausch & Lomb variable, i wasn't too keen on the vietnam era ART-IV it was issued with.

During Vietnam, Panama, ODS(and i assume OEF and OIF), many soldiers brought along even their own personal weapons. Fortunately, the generals are usually not opposed to individual soldier supplied force multipliers. At least not in the infantry they're not. It's probably not as liberal in REMF type units, but i know it still goes on.

If you are in the Army, you can pretty much bring whatever you want to the party along as long as you keep it secure, low key, and are willing to carry it. Many a US soldier has gone to war with an old sawed-off pump shotgun or a trusty hand cannon as added insurance.

"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle, and quick to anger."

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
"question is the silver star the appropriete medal for his actions. I don't know much about how the awards are selected."

He did eliminate 7 enemy soldiers saving his comrades from mortar fire all single shot, with a malfunctioning weapon.

Bronze star might have been appropriate also, but a silver star is hardly a reach. The man's actions were quite heroic.

The highest decoration is the CMoH, followed by the PURPLE HEART.

Everything else is below those two, in all branches.

"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle, and quick to anger."
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote> I was just going by the "official" ranking Snipe... I agree with your assesment actual though. Of course most of the times when a CMH is issued and Purple Heart is issued as well.

Overkill??? I'd kill a fly with a howitzer if I had one.

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\"One of you is gonna fall and die, and I'm not cleaning it up\"

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
[<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote> I was just going by the "official" ranking Snipe... I agree with your assesment actual though. Of course most of the times when a CMH is issued and Purple Heart is issued as well.

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Each service has their DSC type award and then on downwards. Interesting to note that DFCs, Bronze Stars, Air Medals and others can be awarded for non-combat events.

MOHs, Crosses and Silver Stars in theory should be awarded only for combat related events.

MOH's were awarded for non-combat events until WW2. The most notable award was to Gen. Dugoug Doug MacArthur for his defense of the PI, heh.

Moi has read more than a few award reports.

Most Grunts feel that having a CIB is one of the higher awards. Interesting to note the Marines don't have a CIB award.

Jack

My main question is would his actions rise to the medal of honor based on three points.

1. his agressive fighting when it appears the rest of his unit was out action.
2. his definace of his captors, while providing leadership and moral strength to his fellow captive by his actions.
3. his cunning and taking great personal risk in convicing the Iraqis that the numbers were parts request.

Any one of these things could have got him killed. While each of these actions alone may not rise to the medal of honor, taken as a whole it appears he did go well beyond what some would consider would he had to.

His actions definitely did not warrant the CMoH.

Sgt's Shugghart and Gordon were the last to recieve the CMoH.

Those two killed in excess of a hundred enemy personnel while defending the crash site of CWO Durant for many hours, after having volunteered many times(and being denied) to go to Mike's aid.

They did not surrender, and fought to the death, expending nearly thier entire ammunition supply in the process. Sgt Shughart continued fighting on all alone even after Sgt Gordon had been killed, and he himself was wounded.

While they ultimately failed, they willingly and knowingly gave their lives in the process.

While PFC Miller's actions were indeed most courageous, they were certainly far short of the requirements for the CMoH.

Shughart and Gordon may have been Delta, but they were also Snipers, a source of great pride and inspiration for all in the teams- past and present.

"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle, and quick to anger."

That is fine I just want to know the basis for how the awards graded on merit.

HE EARNED THE SILVER STAR, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

HE WAS BRAVE AND WHEN IT COUNTED SMART!,THAT PART NUMBER THING TRULY PRICELESS!!

PRESS TO TEST

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

I agree Goose. He certainly earned the silver star, methinx even worthy of a V device.

"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle, and quick to anger."

[quote]
His actions definitely did not warrant the CMoH.

Sgt's Shugghart and Gordon were the last to recieve the CMoH.

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In the Company of Heroes, Michael Durant, just finished the book. Good read. I knew they had run the op several times before the famed shootout. Durant states they ran it 6 times before and 3 of them were at night. Moi still wonders why they launched it during the day??

Durant was doing some shooting too. One lucky dude they didn't waste him and used him for bartering.

Some excellent insight into the 160TH also.

One of my pet theories on the MOH. The more screwed up the operation, along with dead Americans, the more medals they handed out. This applies more to WW2. The Polesti oil field raid, which was damn near a debacle for the US. Iwo Jima, which probably saved the USMC from being terminated. At Pearl Harbour on 7DEC41, they handed out quite a few too.

Ike in the ETO only handed out 1 MOH to a fighter pilot, John Howard took on an estimated 50-100 FW-190s and Me-109s, solo, 5 kills and another 4 probables in a helluva of a fight for 30 odd minutes. He was a former Flying Tiger CO also. Think his book is called the, Roar of the Tiger. Another interesting read on WW2 and some of the BS ongoing. A B-17 wing nearby witnessed the fight. Howard had no idea how many Krauts he took on. He was ducking, weaving, and shooting.

In the PTO, lots of fighter jocks picked up MOHs.

No doubt Shugghart and Gordon deserved theirs.

Many DSC awards probably could had been upgraded to MOH status too.

Anyway you cut it, all Vets, especially combat Vets should have the same medical care as those in Congress receive.

Jack