'The Audie Murphy of His Generation:' Why David Bellavia's Medal of Honor Is Making History

[rangerrebew]

'The Audie Murphy of His Generation:' Why David Bellavia's Medal of Honor Is Making History

25 Jun 2019
Military.com | By Matthew Cox

President Trump's presentation of the Medal of Honor to an Army Iraq War veteran has reignited a discussion in the military community over why it took 16 years to select a living recipient for the nation's highest award for valor.

Former Army Staff Sgt. David Bellavia is credited with stepping into a barrage of enemy fire in an enemy-held house in Fallujah in 2004 to suppress the enemy with an M249 squad automatic weapon, an act that opened an escape window for a squad of pinned-down 1st Infantry Division soldiers.

Bellavia, a squad leader with A Company 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, then grabbed a M16A4 rifle, re-entered the darkened house and killed several enemy fighters, one with a knife during a hand-to-hand struggle.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/06/25/audie-murphy-his-generation-why-david-bellavias-medal-honor-making-history.html

[sneakypete]

There hasn't been many MOH awards because for all practical purposes,the MOH is a "Big Army/Big USMC Award". It generally takes LOTS of eyewitnesses,the higher their rank the better,and this usually is only possible in battles fought by divisions with PR departments and lots of media coverage.

Most of the battles in the Muddle East have been fought by company-sized or smaller units.