13 Army heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are getting award upgrades to the Distinguished Service Cross
By: Meghann Myers   April 18
After a review of Silver Star awards, the Army is upgrading 13 of them to the Distinguished Service Cross. (Army)
Back in 2016, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered his department to launch a review of more than 1,300 valor awards bestowed for Global War on Terror action, after suspicions arose that some service members’ bravery had been under-recognized during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Army owned about 800 of those medals, and this year, plans to upgrade 13 Silver Stars to the Distinguished Service Cross.
Some have already received their awards and some will get them later this year, according to Army spokesmen.
The soldiers are receiving the DSC “in recognition of their gallantry, intrepidity and heroism above and beyond the call of duty,†Lt. Col. Emmanuel Ortiz-Cruz told Army Times in March. “Previously recognized for their bravery by award of the Silver Star, the Department of Defense upgraded the soldiers’ medals as part of a comprehensive review of commendations for heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan.â€
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/04/18/a-dozen-army-heroes-of-iraq-and-afghanistan-wars-are-getting-award-upgrades-to-the-distinguished-service-cross/
