Recently an MOH recipient endorsed a candidate. ALL politics aside, do you think it appropriate to use the award & service branch like that?

2016-08-01T22:22:21-04:00

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 1 at 2016 10:23 PM

2016-08-01T22:23:11-04:00

Absolutely not appropriate at all.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 1 at 2016 10:23 PM

2016-08-01T22:23:21-04:00

He should take his pension and adulation and act like the Hero he is!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 1 at 2016 10:26 PM

2016-08-01T22:26:34-04:00

A MOH winner had earned the right to say what they please. Even at Dem convention where they turned their back on him. But let's talk about Khan's family.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2016 10:41 PM

2016-08-01T22:41:05-04:00

I would say no here, to an extent. I believe EVERYONE who has served has earned the right to say what they please, MOH or not. To me, they are two different factors. And one (MOH) should not be used for political gain.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2016 10:45 PM

2016-08-01T22:45:25-04:00

If the HOH recipient was retired just as the Generals who where condemned for their appearances and endorsements. It brings up an interesting conundrum.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2016 11:09 PM

2016-08-01T23:09:40-04:00

I think he was not compromised because he was not in uniform nor wearing his award.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Aug 1 at 2016 11:18 PM

2016-08-01T23:18:56-04:00

I did not see the who, what, when, where but if the MOH recipient is on active duty, WRONG! If separated or retired, it makes no difference, he is a regular citizen.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2016 12:36 AM

2016-08-02T00:36:01-04:00

Just as you shouldn't wear the uniform to endorse a candidate, I am of the opinion you shouldn't wear THE medal or any other for political reasons.

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Aug 2 at 2016 1:21 AM

2016-08-02T01:21:42-04:00

The MoH winner is being used - if he was just some "Joe" off the street they wouldn't give two shits about his opinion. The same can be said about all these generals being used by both sides. I will say that I find their opinions a bit more interesting than those of ANYONE in Hollywood. What is it with actors who think they're so intelligent and knowledgeable?

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Aug 2 at 2016 6:37 AM

2016-08-02T06:37:30-04:00

Legally, it depends on if they're still serving.

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Aug 2 at 2016 7:57 AM

2016-08-02T07:57:36-04:00

This man earned the right to endorse anyone at all. Just as Dakota Mayer endorsed Senator Ted Cruz. Men who earn this Medal are just as free to exercise their 1st Amendment right of Freedom of Speech. They earned it. This man is not on active duty and he was not in uniform.

When a person feels passionate about any political candidate they use whatever they bring to the table to endorse the candidate of their choice. Businessmen, bring their business experience. Religious leaders bring their spiritual beliefs. Educators bring their knowledge. Everyone brings some kind of influence if not to a convention, at least to our family and friends. This Hero, is a medically retired officer. Who risked his life in a near death experience to protect and to service this fellow soldiers. I commend his actions on the battlefield and defend his actions at the convention.

If anyone has earned the right to endorse a candidate, I think he has surely earned it. We may not agree or we may agree with his choice as a candidate, but he is no different than anyone else who endorses a candidate. Are we going to start criticizing politicians for using their political office to endorse a candidate. Are we going to start condemning police officers and other first responders for using their positions as first responders to endorse candidates.

This is the United States of America, I will not criticize a person for exercising their 1st Amendment right, just as I would not criticize someone for exercising their 2nd Amendment right. Just as I would not condemn any U.S. citizen for exercising their rights on the entire U.S. Constitution.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Aug 2 at 2016 8:45 AM

2016-08-02T08:45:04-04:00

First, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Someone "endorsing" someone else means absolutely nothing except "I like this guy or gal and plan to support them". That being said though, I do not believe it is appropriate to use your awards or service to sway someone's decision.

For example, if I said "I, Justin Goolsby, on behalf of the entire Marine Corps choose to Donald Trump as our candidate", that would be uncalled for because I can't claim to speak for the entire Marine Corps.

But if I said, "I think Trump will be a good fit because he supports my fellow service members", that is appropriate because I am speaking as a person and not as a representative of my Branch.

Now if the mainstream media came out and said "Retired Marine Justin Goolsby says the Marine Corps has Trump's back". That is something I personally can not control. Is it inappropriate for them to use my name like that, of course, but I can't physically control what others say or think.

So it really all depends on how the said individual endorsed the candidate.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Aug 2 at 2016 9:18 AM

2016-08-02T09:18:17-04:00

I see "having a MOH" and "using a MOH" as two different things. If you're referring to Florent A. Groberg, he is a MOH winner, but I don't characterize him as having "used the award". There's no way he can ever be disassociated from the distinction of being a MOH winner, especially when being introduced by someone else to thousands of people who may not know him. I haven't seen him "use the award" to push a political agenda. I've just seen a private citizen, who happens to have a MOH, speaking his mind about where he thinks the country should go. His speech at the DNC wasn't laden with "I'm a MOH winner, so you should listen to me" types of rhetoric. So, I don't characterize him as having used the award for political purposes. In fact, he is probably the best example you'll find of a MOH winner being apolitical, considering that he's a life-long Republican who spoke at the Democratic convention. He is no longer on active duty, so I don't see any problem with it.

Response by CW4 Angel C. made Aug 2 at 2016 1:45 PM

2016-08-02T13:45:02-04:00

Honestly a person MOH or not can endorse whoever they want and it shouldn't persuade anyone which way to vote. I really don't care who anyone else votes for. I know two people I'm not voting for.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 2 at 2016 1:46 PM

2016-08-02T13:46:44-04:00

I am wary of any vet using his status as a "veteran" to endorse a political candidate. Yes, as a citizen you are free to vote for and endorse whomever you want, but when you do so under the auspices of a "veteran" then people begin to assume you speak for all of us. Our status as veterans or military should be left out of the equation. Our military is apolitical and should remain that way.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 1:17 AM

2016-08-03T01:17:40-04:00

They can endorse whoever they want, it just so happens the have a MOH.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 1:20 AM

2016-08-03T01:20:54-04:00

I'm also shocked at how many times I've seen Medal of Honor "winner" in this post.... I wouldn't consider it a prize... But I digress