The Medal of Honor is the highest military award given for valor in combat. For the Navy and Marine Corps, the Navy Cross is the second highest award for valor.
When I was a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam we had a sick joke about how you were chosen for these awards in the event you used your body to cover the explosion of a live enemy hand grenade.
When I was a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam we had a sick joke about how you were chosen for these awards in the event you used your body to cover the explosion of a live enemy hand grenade.
"If you jump on it and it goes off and you die, you get the Medal of Honor. If you jump on it and it goes off and you live, you get the Navy Cross. If you jump on it and it doesn't explode, you get laughed at by the rest of the platoon for being so stupid."
Last week United States Marine Corps Corporal William Kyle Carpenter received the Medal of Honor for throwing his body on a live hand grenade in Afghanistan. His reaction caused him severe wounds, but saved the life of Lance Corporal Nicholas Eufrazio.
The Marine Corps got it right this time and another sick joke dies as a result of its reaction.
Ooo-rah, Marine! Semper Fi!
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