Posted on Jan 25, 2014
What are some of the most absurd incidents you have witnessed of an individual or group being awarded the Combat Action Badge (CAB)?
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So, what are some of the most absurd incidents you have witnessed of an individual or group of Soldiers being awarded the CAB? <br><br>During our Iraq deployment in 08-09, our Battery was attached to the TX NG. We were in the lead vehicle literally feet behind the trail vehicle of one of their convoys and we were sitting at the entrance to BIAP. Monitoring their radio frequency, we overheard their trail vic come up on the net and say they were receiving small arms fire. So, being RIGHT behind their bumper we looked around and saw nothing, heard nothing. I sent a message back to their TOC via MTS and stated in a professional way, that they were full of shnitzles. The whole truck was given CAB's. Ahhh, that feeling they must have had going home as heroes,,, <br>
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Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 41
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I have one to top them all, while conducting a TCP near a few miles away from Taji in'05, we had a mortar attack inbound to our point and a soldier who was in a porta-potty was hit while taking a crap and was awarded a CAB for the incident. Now that was what I called being in the "shit", I had to do it, you know I did.
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SFC James Baber
SSG B,
He didn't even make it out of the PP, he was declared KIA by the powers that be, our guy ended up with a CAB from the incident, many of the rest of us were put in for them as well due to the mortar incident anyways, but it was one of many that most of had as one of the events that got some of our guys their CABs, we pretty much had our whole MTT team get submitted about a dozen times that year, and under the then current standards you could only be awarded one badge for action, although for many of us it took 3,4,5 separate events being submitted before it was approved for the badge.
Someone recently told me that you can now get subsequent badge recognition for multiple events now.
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CPT William Jones
MSgt David Hoffman - If it draws blood and need medical attention as a result of enemy action and he is 11 o 18 mos in slot its good.
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I was on CAF waiting to go on leave. Some one came in the tent screaming "get to a bunker, INCOMMING" . I didn't hear a thing. not an alarm, the whistle or the resulting impact. Nothing. But they made us get in the bunker anyway. I took my kit to use as a pillow. still in the bunker I get woken up again because they "wanted my name" to submit for a CAB with everyone else! I told them I already had one, the response..... you don't want another one? -_- I have no idea if they actually got CABs , I left the same day. apparently the "round" hit the flight line. If you have ever been to CAF you know how far away that is from the transient tents.
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SGT Alicia Brenneis
I wasn't aware that you could have more than one CAB at all. That's why the question was so ridiculous to me. Well that and the "qualifying event" was just ridiculous to even consider.
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SSG (Join to see)
The unit we replaced did the same thing, there was a rocket attack and they put in and did receive CAB's, hell I had a rocket land at the end of our barracks while I was walking down to the latrine one night, but I guess if you have someone submit it and know how to push it up the chain of command.
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SSG (Join to see)
The unit that we replaced put themselves in for a CAB because they had to sit in a bunker for a rocket attack, heck I got to the point I stopped going to the bunker for the incoming alarm.
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Each engagement is different. I was with my team, returning from an op and passing thru Shewan, Afghanistan....a notoriously unfriendly town....and an individual took a pot shot at the gunner in the vehicle ahead of mine. I won't call him a sniper, because his shooting skills were abysmal. No one saw him, few heard the shot. I had my first TIC 2 weeks after arriving at my post. It was an ambush by 5 guys who were tactically challenged. That engagement lasted about 30 minutes. Lots of ammo expended. End result, no friendly casualties, 5 PUCs, and I did not get my CAB for that TIC. Mine came later, after a gunfight at Farah, max range was about 7 meters, with small arms and grenades. Result was two dead bad guys and a shot up house. I will not second guess someone who has a CAB just because someone else did not see the bad guys or hear the shots. Combat is confusing, and no two people see the same event the same way.
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