Posted on Sep 17, 2015
Beau Biden-Military Decorations and Stay at Walter Reed
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I am wondering how the VP's son managed to get into Walter Reed while not on active duty and how he ended up with the Bronze Star let alone the Legion of Merit upon his death?
For the final few years of his life, Biden suffered from brain cancer. On May 20, 2015, he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, because of a recurrence of brain cancer; he died there 10 days later. I empathize his death and applaud his service but...
Biden joined the military in 2003 as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard and was a Major in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps as part of the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware.
Biden received a visit at Camp Victory from his father on July 4, 2009. Biden returned from Iraq in September 2009, his yearlong stint on active duty complete. Biden had announced that during his deployment he would continue to actively serve as Delaware's Attorney General by working in conjunction with his office's senior staff in Delaware. During his year of service in Iraq, Beau returned home only once — to see his father take the oath of office for vice president.
Beau received the Bronze Star for his service, a military medal that celebrates “heroic or meritorious achievement.” The act justifying award of the medal must be performed while fighting an enemy of the United States, or while involved in conflict with an opposing/foreign force. It can also be awarded for heroism while serving with friendly forces engaged in combat against an opposing military in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Bronze star is supposed to be for heroism - not for just showing up and he was a lawyer.
Army Chief of Staff Raymond Odierno presented Beau Biden with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard. Odierno, Beau Biden’s commanding general in Iraq, also lauded his comrade’s military service overseas. The general presented Beau Biden with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard. The award honors exceptional merit in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.
For the final few years of his life, Biden suffered from brain cancer. On May 20, 2015, he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, because of a recurrence of brain cancer; he died there 10 days later. I empathize his death and applaud his service but...
Biden joined the military in 2003 as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard and was a Major in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps as part of the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware.
Biden received a visit at Camp Victory from his father on July 4, 2009. Biden returned from Iraq in September 2009, his yearlong stint on active duty complete. Biden had announced that during his deployment he would continue to actively serve as Delaware's Attorney General by working in conjunction with his office's senior staff in Delaware. During his year of service in Iraq, Beau returned home only once — to see his father take the oath of office for vice president.
Beau received the Bronze Star for his service, a military medal that celebrates “heroic or meritorious achievement.” The act justifying award of the medal must be performed while fighting an enemy of the United States, or while involved in conflict with an opposing/foreign force. It can also be awarded for heroism while serving with friendly forces engaged in combat against an opposing military in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Bronze star is supposed to be for heroism - not for just showing up and he was a lawyer.
Army Chief of Staff Raymond Odierno presented Beau Biden with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard. Odierno, Beau Biden’s commanding general in Iraq, also lauded his comrade’s military service overseas. The general presented Beau Biden with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard. The award honors exceptional merit in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.
Posted in these groups: Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 30
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As a multiple-tour combat veteran to the Middle East as a US Marine, I too would like to know EXACTLY 'what' Maj Biden did to deserve the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. If there's any MOS that is far-removed from combat it's the JAG corps. So, this begs the question; WHAT did he (Biden) do, and how did he manage to earn both of these? Was it because his dad was VP, and further his own (Beau's) political aspirations?
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LCDR Bruce Sheppard
Reminiscent of LBJ's Silver Star he got fm visiting a command in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He rode along on a B-25 on what was supposed to be a milk run, but got involved with some Zeroes and escaped back to base. The actual crew of the aircraft got NO RECOGNITION, as the story goes
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
LCDR Bruce Sheppard - , Dugout Doug later said that it was the most UNDESERVED SS in the SW Pacific Theater. He should have known as that was his command.
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Bill Sohonage
The Army alone awarded over 170,000 Bronze Star Medals in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, only 4,500 of which had the accompanying “V” device, which denotes exceptional valor.
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The unfortunate "truth", at least as I saw it around the 2006-2009 period, is that some awards are becoming tied to rank/duty station...rather than being evaluated as truly "individual" awards. The debate over the Bronze Star is well known...I will add that I actively opposed being recommended for it until a senior NCO convinced me I was making a tempest in a tea-cup for nothing. I was proud to end up with the MSM instead.
Being the son of the VP has likely always had it's perks (Though let's not forget that one former President's son went to great lengths to lead his men into battle at Normandy). I will say that though I'm not the biggest supporter of his father's party, or "boss"...what very little I've read about Major Biden indicates he was a good apple overall. It's sad his less fortunate comrades may not enjoy the same level of care or support...but I don't think it's unexpected or likely to change in our lifetime.
Being the son of the VP has likely always had it's perks (Though let's not forget that one former President's son went to great lengths to lead his men into battle at Normandy). I will say that though I'm not the biggest supporter of his father's party, or "boss"...what very little I've read about Major Biden indicates he was a good apple overall. It's sad his less fortunate comrades may not enjoy the same level of care or support...but I don't think it's unexpected or likely to change in our lifetime.
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