We often times hear the word "Hero" when referring to those of us that have served in our nations current military actions abroad, in particular with the Reserves and Gaurd that have been pulled from their homes and families to do their duty. I must say that I and countless others appreciate the intentions. I just believe personally that the word is overused and taken too lightly.

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I've always been taught and believed to this day, that all of us have a duty to our country, and the fulfillment of that duty ought not to be considered "Heroic". Even though I consider the entire generation of WW 2 a "Heroic" generation, they will simply say they were just doing their duty. I say this because in the entire year I was in Iraq, aside from those that made the "Supreme sacrafice", I only met one person that even came close to being thought of as a hero, SSG Baliscao of the 100th/ 442d Inf. And yet his actions were ignored by our officer corps while each and every officer in "Task Force Konohiki" recieved a "Bronze star" for "Meritorious conduct". They and few others recieved this award on the 19th of December 2005 during deactivation cermonies on LSa Anaconda. It wasn't the awardees fault, it is the fault of the Officer Corps in general.

I would like to explain what it was that SSG Baliscao did and then compare it to what the Officers and others did so that the reader can understand my disdain for the "Bronze Star" heroes.

In November of 2005 a convoy from FOB O'Ryan was heading south on MSR Tampa enroute to a meeting with other elements of the coalition forces. In this convoy were elements of TF Konohiki and the 101st ABN. The convoy was attacked with an IED that struck the vehicle of a Colonel from the 101st. The entire vehicle recieved the brunt of an enormous blast that ripped through the vehicle and nearly tore off the lower leg of this Colonel. As pandomonium errupted SSG Baliscao rushed foward, exposing himself to harm, and saved the life and limb of this Officer. From what I was told from our people there if not for the actions of SSG Baliscao the Colonel may have died. That's the first life he saved, he and he alone.

About five days later he would save another life on FOB O'Ryan. Captain K was driving past a security detail when he was flagged down by on of the guards. One of the female soldiers ther was having breathing difficulties and near panic. Captain K rushed to our bunker and summoned SSG Baliscao. As soon as SSG Baliscao arrived the soldier stopped breathing and lost consciousnes. She was having an alergic reaction to medication and the heat had taken its toll. SSG Baliscao did what he gets paid to do and brought her out of it, saving his second life in a week.

The third life was saved in my last entry during our actions in the village of Abyiachi. SSG Baliscao has saved the lives of of field grade officer, an enlisted female soldier and a Iraqi citizen shot by our element.

I remember walking up to Doc Baliscao and patting him on the back and asking how it felt to be a hero, he replied by saying "Don't hand me that hero stuff, I'm a medic and that's what we do!". How true.

However SSG Baliscao did much more then what was asked of him. On countless occasions I've seen him pick up his weapon and medical bag and moved side by side with the Infantry and Iraqi soldiers. He always kept himself in top physical condition and always strived for excellance in the execution of all his duties. He is a damn good NCO.

Now let's talk about the "Heroes" that recieved the "Bronze Star". First I must say that it is a "FACT" that it was decided long before we even arrived in Iraq that virtually all officers would recieve "Bronze Stars". This can easily be verified by looking at the percentage of Officers from th 29th BCT that did not recieve one. Not one officer ever did anything even close to what was just described. Some of the officers left the wire maybe one time a week. All the officers that had office duty recieved "Bronze stars". I talked to one officer from the 29th BCT and she had no idea why she recieved the award and never left the confines of the LSA.

Some of the officers did a geed job but nothing they weren't supposed to do already in the execution of normal duities. Some officers even recieved the award when they should have been "Court Marshalled". For example, one officer lost a laptop computer with all the defensive information and supply routes for the entire region, another officer asked an Iraqi soldier if he could "F---K" his wife or sister but both of these men recieved the Bronze Star for "Meritorius" conduct, please.

I feel nothing but disgust when I think of all the men of WW2 that really fought for years in two war zones and came home with just a couple of campaign ribbons. Many of us that are sickend by such disregard for tradition and history blame our most recent Army chiefs of staff for the current medal and ribbon lust. One would think looking at this as simply doing ones duty is enough as do men like SSG baliscao, but sadly this is not the case. The people that recieved these "Phonie" awards are not to blame and i don't mean to embarass them but it's just pitiful.