Some things to remember there everyone.

You can get two types of Bronze Stars: meritorious service and valor. The extra "V" device is added if awarded for valor.

Blanket issues of the Bronze Star are not unknown, actually. At the end of the WW II, large numbers of guys in the 101st Airborne, for example, were issued the Bronze Star so that their point totals would be upped, allowing them to be repatriated faster.

I don't think Lynch is being singled out here and I think that some of the criticism of her is a bit unwarranted. She's not the one awarding herself the medal. She is not the one that submitted the recommendation for the award or the general officer who approved it. 10 other soldiers from the 507th were awarded medals for that action.

http://www.southjerseynews.com/issues/july/m070303g.htm

Don’t criticize her as she is being used by both the military and our civilian leadership who feel the need to blow this out of proportion.

Not the first time nor will it be the last.

http://www.d-n-i.net/fcs/comments/c363.htm

I had a company commander when I was in the 25th that was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on Grenada. Basically, he walked off the back of the airplane with the rest of his company as the fighting was practically over. He had the citation on his office wall. I would have not showed it out of guilt for not doing anything to earn it. Even the Infantry has it's duds.