Out of curiosity... when was the last time you saw a decoration awarded the day of an event? Secondly, I am guessing you are in the 101st Airborne? I am curious as to why and how you are posting from Iraq. It seems to me like a huge OPSEC violation to be telling this on an internet form. If your unit is in fact the 101st Airborne I bet my left nut you guys will be getting some serious awards when you return because of everything I have seen on the news. Awards take time and are hardly ever given while an event is still going on. I'll have to give my good friend (a LT in the 101st) a call when he gets back and see what shit he got into over there... I'm so jelous. Thirdly, I said "fire exchange" with the enemy, a firefight. Now, I don't know what happened but if they just got shwacked and ran away and didn't engage for a period of time then there is no grounds for an award like a bronze star. I am sorry for your units loss.

I just sent 3 of my Sgt's and 1 of my Airman to Baghdad today. Unfortunatly, officers don't get deployed as much as the enlisted in my career field. Believe me, I didn't sign up for the service to sit CONUS and not get in on the action.

As for other people saying they didn't get bronze stars or whatever. It is your commanding officers job to take care of his people. With an organization so big there is no way everything is going to be completely uniformed and FAIR! Life will never be fair, sorry. I get screwed out of my days off all the time because I work swings and mids and am required to attend operational meetings during the mornings... comes with the job. I personally take a vested interest in looking out for my troops and if they fit the bill for an award or medal then by all means I am going to make sure it gets written and pushed up the chain of command. I do not put people in for medals I don't think they were deserving of.

Just my .02