Letter, 19

Today they  had a big ceremony to award  the " purple  heart " medal to several  soldiers ... we have three  medals for valor .. bronze star .. silver star ...  and the congressional medal  of honor,  which  is only  awarded by an  act  of congress .. it is normally  given  post humously ... but there are a few  living  recipients .. i have  met  a few ... it,s  only for  acts  of  extraordinary valor  in the  face of the enemy ... but the award that  is the  proudest is the most common ... the purple heart .. it is awarded  to only those  that have  been  wounded in action  against the enemy ... it,s such  a simple award ,,, but  it  signifies that so much .. you have  fought for  your  country and you have  been  wounded  for your country .. many  widows are sent  the purple  heart ...  i never  got a purple heart ...  but  a purple heart  many times  accompanies and bronze star  etc ...  bravery and wounds ... but the funny thing  is that there  is no ceremony or  the awards for bravery... in this  country  we  cherish  the  sacrifice of wounded more  the  brave ...  so there  was  this big  ceremony on TV  for  the awarding  of the purple  hearts to  several soldiers ...  and the best thing was this :  it was just like  the old days ..  remember  that i  told you that i was  just an infantryman? .. well there were guys  in the 10th mountain division and 87nd airborne .. etc .. and  as the awards were announced it was said the 10th infantry  division ..  the 87th infantry .. etc... we are not artillerists .. we are not   armored [tanks) .. we  say the 87 th airborne .. but the real name  is the 87th  airborne INFANTRY  division ...  and all those guys  that got  the purple  heart  .. they  were  all rangers  .. and airborne and mountain ... and special  forces .. but  today  they were  all simply ' infantry" .. i  remember  this "first lieutenant Thomas Mickelson, 11th special infantry group" .. i,m so  proud ... the only way it could be better is if  i got  shot !!! ...  what do you think?  does russia honor  it,s  wounded   more than  it,s  heroes? ? ... i remember when i met my first medal  of honor winners  are  so rare  it,s like  meeting  a living dynosaur... i looked  at him  and i wondered   what hell he  endured  and  how brave  he was as a young   soldier ... he just looked like a normal man ...  a little rough ..  but  normal ... i kept thinking   that congress  had  to pass  a decree to acknowledge extraordinary bravary ... the  president had to put this medal  around his  neck ... ( a blue ribbon  with white  stars ) .. only  the congress can award it and only the president  can presents it ...  if you recieve  this medal  you never  have to fight  again and neither does your  son ... all i could do  is shake his hand  .. we were both in the infantry ...