Comments on: Attacking General Petraeus’ Combat Action Badge

By: GI Korea

GI Korea — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:27:54 +0000

I wonder if the MoveOn and Daily Kos loons will be attacking General Petraeus now like they did back when he took over the war effort in 2007 with false stories like this one?

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:47:11 +0000

GI says it's very easy to get a CAB, but I would say that depends upon who's gonna be writing the 638 for you. I was in a convoy of MRAPs out east of Baqubah near the Iranian border and the vehicle immediately to our front hit an old AT mine. Our boss (rightfully so) only wrote the guys in the vehicle that rolled over the mine up for CABs, even though our vehicle was 50 meters behind theirs. On the other hand, I've seen people awarded it because they were on Anaconda while mortars were imcoming. If you know the size of Balad, you'll get where I'm going with this.Let's be honest, the CAB is probably the most in a long line of awards being prostituted out.

I'll vet what retired1SG says. I was with 2/502 in OIF I and Petraeus was out and about from the berm north to Mosul, so I have no doubt that he "was being engaged" at some point.

By: Tom Langley

Tom Langley — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:48:23 +0000

I'm not going to comment about whether General Petreaus is authorized his Combat Action Badge because I don't know but I will say that often times soldiers are given awards that they do not deserve. During the 1991 Gulf war I was stationed at the US Army Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. There was a SFC who had returned from southwest Asia who matter of factly told me that the members of his unit has received bronze stars & that all his unit had done was sit in the desert. I think that is a disgrace. I wish that President Obama had just given an a$$ chewing to General McCrystal & let him maintain his command but I can certainly understand why General McCrystal was relieved, he did exercise poor judgement in letting his staff talk with the Rolling Stone reporters. General Petreaus is an excellent commander & leader of troops. He certainly got the job done in Iraq.

By: Retired 1SG

Retired 1SG — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:19:15 +0000

In 2003 GEN Petreaus was the Commanding General of the 101st ABN during our initial assault in the war. During this assault the Division CP as well as elements of the DISCOM were engaged in direct combat with enemy forces. I personally know that when he visited my Battalion, he was present and under fire on several occassions while walking patrols with companies and platoons. By regulation without need of clarification he is eligible for this award retroactively. It has nothing to do with recent combat activity. Anyone that served with the GEN when he was a Division Commander knows he was very hands on and always present on the frontlines. I retired with 23 yrs 5 months and 6 days. My son served in 1st Cav for 3 combat deployments before he left the service and he had the same view of the Cav that seems to permeate here. For clarification, you do not have to engage the enemy to be awarded the CIB. They have to be assigne d to a unit considered to be in armed combat with the enemy. Actual firing of your weapon is not a requirement. FYI the GEN has never worn a CIB nor is he authorized. As an infantry 1SG, I can tell you that it comes down to the discretion of the Brigade/Regimental Commander as to who gets this award.

By: Retired GI

Retired GI — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:14:47 +0000

Don't know about the "load", but I would be VERY interested in hearing how he "earned" a CAB.

By: Retired GI

Retired GI — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:48:48 +0000

Yes, you do know. I was with the 1st CAV @ Camp Taji.

E7 and above were awarded Broze stars if the didn't F-up during deployment.

Below E7? Thanks for coming and here is your (mission complete OIF2) Coin.

I didn't get anything at retirement for my 20 years. To be honest, I was so pissed at the CAV, I couldn't wait to retire.

And before anyone starts bitchin about me whining, I was and am proud of my service and what I did. You don't do it for the little ribbons and medals.

But when rank is the reason your awarded them—it's worng.

And when you serve your 20, I think I have a right to bitch about being forgotten.

CAB? I was SOG when my guards began takin fire. Drove out to assist and with QRF coordinated with air support to distroy the enemy. CAB? please. I was told that Iraq would be a bullit for my retirement award! Not that I received one.

What did the General do again?

What is the justification for a "General" receiving a CAB?

By: Macgrul

Macgrul — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:03:45 +0000

Yeah, just because someone questions a general for getting a badge for being in combat does not make them patriotic. How on earth does a general participate in combat?? (Plausible, but highly unlikley). I know for the CIB, you have to return fire with your personnel weapon, so i really doubt Petreaus was under fire and fired back. I think he is a load of shit because by 2001, he was a brigadier general and they are highly unlikley to not be in the field.

By: silentgrayfellow

silentgrayfellow — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:29:17 +0000

Jim Todd, if you had stars on your hat you'd have gotten that CAB. I am a recently retired Iraq veteran (1st Cav)–I know what I'm talking about.

By: shattered

shattered — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:49:31 +0000

You are sounding like John Kerry.

By: Jim Todd

Jim Todd — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:29:50 +0000

I was in Tikrit and Ba'Qubah in 2003. During that time I was shot at by snipers, ambushed by RPG's, attacked by an IED and I have pictures. I have submitted 3 requests for the CAB and all have been denied.