Pentagon says lasers and other technology have led to low Medal of Honor count; lawmaker disagrees

For some veterans and members ofCongress, that last number simply doesn't add up.

They question how so few Medals ofHonor — all awarded posthumously — could be bestowed for two wars of such magnitudeand duration.

Pentagon officials say the natureof war has changed. Laser-guided missiles destroy enemy positions withoutputting soldiers in harm's way. Insurgents deploy roadside bombs rather thanengage in firefights they're certain to lose.

Yet, those explanations don't tellthe whole story, said Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. Hunter sponsored legislationthat directs the secretary of defense to review current trends in awarding theMedal of Honor to determine what's behind the low count. The bill passed theHouse. If Senate negotiators go along, Secretary Robert Gates would have toreport back by March 31.

"It seems like our collectivestandard for who gets the Medal of Honor has been raised," said Hunter, afirst-term member of Congress who served in Iraqand Afghanistan.

"The basis of warfare isyou've got to take ground and then you've got to hold it. That takes peoplewalking into houses, running up hills, killing bad guys and then staying thereand rebuffing counterattacks," he added. "That's how warfare hasalways been no matter how many bombs you drop and how many predators you haveflying around."

Military officials said theywelcome the opportunity to conduct an in-depth review of the award process.Still, they dispute Hunter's theory.

"Nominations go through nomore or less scrutiny than in the past," said Eileen Lainez, a Pentagonspokeswoman. "The standard for the Medal of Honor is high, as one wouldexpect for our nation's most prestigious military decoration."

AMVETS, a veteran's advocacy group,said it supports Hunter's efforts. It held a banquet for Medal of Honors inJanuary, and the low number of medals was a big topic of discussion, said JayAgg, the group's communications director.

"They have expressed concernabout their dwindling numbers and they're wondering why there are so few Medalsof Honor being awarded for current conflicts," Agg said.

The Medal of Honor has been awarded3,467 times since the Civil War. Almost half — 1,522 — were awarded in thatconflict alone. The next highest tally came from World War II — 464. In theVietnam War, 244 were awarded.

To get the Medal of Honor, at leasttwo eyewitnesses have to view a deed so outstanding that it clearlydistinguishes gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. No margin of doubtis allowed. Nominations make their way through military channels untileventually they're approved at the highest levels of the Pentagon and then bythe president.

Drew Dix, 64, of Mimbres, N.M.,received the medal for actions taken during the Tet Offensive in Vietnamwhen he continually risked his life during a 56-hour battle to rescuecivilians. He said he didn't feel comfortable judging the current Medal ofHonor process.

"We've trusted the military tofight this war," Dix said. "We've got to trust the military in allaspects of it, including the awarding of medals."

Jack Jacobs, 64, also received theaward for actions taken in Vietnamwhen he returned again and again under intense fire to rescue wounded soldiers.He said the Pentagon's explanation for the low Medal of Honor count is logical,but he would not rule out other factors because of the subjective nature of theaward.

"I'm not a fan of singlefactor analysis," Jacobs said. "There are lots of reasons why thingsoccur and that is only one of them. Human attitudes also play a greatrole."

Jacobs, a military analysis atMSNBC, predicted the war in Afghanistanwill involve more of the kind of close combat that leads to Medal of Honorsbeing awarded.

It's unclear exactly how manysoldiers have been nominated for the award from the two wars. But, seven havemade it all the way to the secretary of defense, and six were approved. Theexception is Sgt. Rafael Peralta of San Diego, Calif. Huntersaid the Peralta case shows that a higher standard is being used for the medalthan in previous wars.

Peralta died on Nov. 15, 2004,during fierce fighting in Fallujah, Iraq. Themilitary's investigation showed he was probably hit by friendly fire from amember of his unit as they engaged insurgents inside a house.

Witnesses said Peralta, a Mexicanimmigrant who became a U.S.citizen while in the Marines, fell to the ground face-first after being shot inthe crossfire. A fleeing insurgent threw a hand grenade into the room, whichbounced off a couch and landed near Peralta's head.

"Sgt. Peralta grabbed thegrenade and pulled it underneath him while we took cover," said anunidentified soldier whose name is redacted as part of the investigative filethe military released publicly.

Peralta's nomination was sent back forfurther investigation after a preliminary autopsy report stated the head woundwould have been immediately incapacitating and "he could not have executedany meaningful motions."

In the end, Lt. General Richard F.Natonski, stuck with his recommendation: "I believe Sergeant Peralta madea conscious, heroic decision to cover the grenade and minimize the effects heknew it would have on the rest of his Marine team."

Gates assemble an independent panelto review the nomination — something he did not do in the other six cases senthis way. The reviewers included a former commanding general, a Medal of Honorrecipient, a neurosurgeon and two pathologists.

"The reviewers eachindividually concluded that the evidence did not meet the exacting 'no doubt'standard necessary to support award of the MOH," Gates said in a letter toHunter.

Robert Reynolds, a lance corporalat the time, was about three to five feet behind Peralta when the grenadeexploded. He has no doubt that Peralta purposefully attempted to place thegrenade underneath himself to save others.

"It wasn't just something hebarely did. He physically reached out and pulled it into his body," saidReynolds, 31, and now a corrections office and father of two daughters in Ritzville, Wash.

In the end, Peralta received theNavy Cross, the branch's second highest honor. Several California lawmakers have petitionedPresident Barack Obama to order a review of Peralta's case. AMVETS said allrecipients of the second-highest honor for bravery for their branch of themilitary should have their case reviewed to determine if their actions meritthe Medal of Honor.

Hunter said he's also concernedthat no living soldier from Iraqor Afghanistanhas earned the Medal of Honor.

"Having fewer of them is likedepleting our national treasures," Hunter said.

But there are also concerns thatmeddling by Congress could lessen the significance of the medal.

"You don't want this grouphere determining what's courageous and what's not," Hunter said, referringto his fellow federal lawmakers. "You want that left up to the military.The problem is the military is not stepping up on this."