I was very happy a year or so ago when the Army authorized the Close Combat Badge to recognize the role played by non-Infantry Soldiers engaged in combat. Combat Engineers were included in the criteria, as they ought to have been. The eligibility as I read it includes the following: A Soldier must have been:
* Assigned or attached to an Army brigade or smaller unit that is purposely organized to routinely conduct close combat operations and engage in direct combat, in accordance with existing Army rules and policy.
* Under fire while engaged in active ground combat, to moving into contact and destroy the enemy with direct fire. Battle or campaign participation is not sufficient to qualify for this award; the unit must have been in active ground combat.
Makes sense to me, and I say commanders and leaders should make sure recognition is given to all Engineers who are directly engaged in combat, along the same lines as their brothers in the Infantry. What does not make sense to me might be instances where the "system" allows the award of such recognition to a person who for whatever reason was engaged in the "fringes" of combat, not necessarily moving into contact to destroy the enemy by direct fire, and was not specifically assigned or attached to a combat unit. Could, for example, an Engineer Soldier who is not a Combat Engineer by MOS, and who is not assigned to a close combat unit, but was still engaged in some sort of "combat action" such as being hit as a part of an ambush while riding in a convoy be allowed to receive the badge? I would hope not.
But, I remember from my combat tours during the Vietnam War, that there were too many in the military who seemed to me to be "recognition seekers and badge collectors". To them, it was more important to come home from Vietnam with a combat patch on their right shoulder, with as many "rows of ribbons" as they could get to adorn their uniform, and then to be able to strut around looking like some sort of combat hero, which most certainly many were not.
I suppose there will always be those sad leaders who say to their troops, "charge forward men, I'll be closely observing you through high-power lenses from my position here in the rear." Then, when the fight is over, that so called leader is first in line to make sure they get their own "personal badge of honor". That's too bad, because by them doing this, the true significance of the "badge" is tarnished for those who really deserve it.
