The Combat Infantry Badge
I am a WWII combat infantryman who served in the Third Infantry Division through 6 campaigns in Europe in WWII in Italy, France and Germany. The decoration of which I am most proud is the CIB. It's an honorable award and I still wear a miniature in the lapel of my jacket at age 84.
It was intended to reward those Infantryman who risked their lives for their country daily, without reservation, and endured the hardships of an Infantryman's life. And for having faced the high probablility of instant death day after day after day with no end of the War in sight. Thirty four thousand of those men who served in the Third Infantry Division were killed in action by War's end. Thus it's a highly respected decoration. But now others who did not undergo those dangers and hardships that we did 60 years ago, demand the same award.
Today's Army appears to me to be somewhat receptive to cheapening awards as a means of encouraging enlistments. I think it would be a grave injustice to those of us who gave so much and ask for nothing.
3_7_I_Recon
Russ Cloer