CIB's being awarded to com engs

[Walt's Daughter]

I received this letter today. I left off the name for privacy. If said individual would like to reply, he may. I am also posting my reply.

 

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Mam,

 

Engineers of any variety, unless they meet extra special conditions, are not authorized the CIB. I appreciate your efforts on behalf of engineers but as recipients of the CIB they do not qualify. Read the regulation too. I too actually know a few non-infantry branched soldiers who received the CIB, however they met the in command of an infantry unit for 30 day or the Special Forces criteria. Engineers, unless they met the required criteria, are, essentially wearing or claiming to have earned the CIB, when not authorized, previous mistakes included. There was a book called "Stolen Valor" on this.

 

Additionally, I know of several aviators, having been shot down, fought with infantry units until they were able to be moved. NO CIB for them. I believe that your assn could better use its energy and time in working with all veteran's organizations to ensure that all vets are taken care of from the medical and other support standpoints. Unfortunately, the generally exclusive attitudes of WWII vets (our war was a "real war")(VFW and such) to Vietnam Vets and those of the conflicts since then have been one of the primary reasons for the loss of membership in such organizations.

 

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Dear (I left this off):

 

Thank you for your opinion, but we have a much different outlook on the situation. No disrespect meant.

 

I (we) have read every single document numerous times, and in our mind it leaves no doubt to their interpretation.

 

As far as your comparison regarding the pilot, it really doesn't apply since he was not designated AS INFANTRY, unlike many of my engineers WHO WERE, as clearly stated in many of the NARA documents we have. Our engineers were actually ASSIGNED as infantry for days, weeks or months at a time.

 

Sincerely...

 

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His response to me this afternoon:

 

No disrespect taken. Infantry is infantry and engineers are engineers. Combat vs. combat support.

 

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Guess some people don't get it. We aren't arguing about support troops sir. We are arguing with the ones WHO WERE INFANTRY. I won't say anything more because my next words are guaranteed to be NOT NICE! But as my dear friend friend who happens to be an infantry general, said last week, "Ignore them honey!"