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A big debate is brewing over a new medal being awarded to drone pilots. (AP image)

New medal for drone pilots angers some military members

BY Libby Denkmann  on February 22, 2013 @ 6:03 pm (Updated: 6:11 pm - 2/22/13 )

The United States military has been flying drones since Hank Snyder served in the Vietnam War.

"If you can picture a control box, you launch your drone, and you have to operate that drone like a radio controlled airplane. You take it to the site you want to take it, you take your pictures, and bring it back home," Hank says.

Hank was stationed in the jungles of Burma as a teenager, flying SD-1 unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with still cameras and radar beacons.

The drone had a top range of 100 miles, and Hank and his fellow pilots were stationed on the front lines. He received a Purple Heart after being injured by a land mine.

I asked Hank how close to combat he and his fellow pilots were stationed. "Right in front. According to my rifle, pretty close," he laughed.

Hank said they weren't always successful working on the cutting edge of 1960s technology.

"We had a jet drone when I got to Germany. They had a card where you punched numbers in and put in your drone. It took off, and went about 200 feet, and blew up."

Today, UAVs look more like spacecraft than the radio-controlled model airplanes Hank pioneered.

Sleek, silent, and deadly, they are often piloted from bases thousands of miles away from the battlefront.

The increasing importance of high-tech war machines has prompted the Pentagon to announce a new honor just for drone pilots and cyber warfare experts who impact a combat operation but do not necessarily put themselves at risk.

The Distinguished Warfare Medal is the first combat-related award to be created since the Bronze Star in 1944. It will rank between a Bronze star and a Silver star in precedence. It is also slated to rank above the Purple Heart.

But not everyone is happy about it.

"[It's] probably a totally unnecessary award. We do have a series of medals that are already available for any range of actions," said Doug Sterner, Curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor.

Sterner is also the recipient of 2 Bronze Stars.

"Back in my day, we used to say if you had 50-cents and a Bronze Star you could get a cup of coffee in most restaurants," he joked.

Sterner argued there are already awards in place for non-combat contributions like drone piloting.

For example, "When the nature of warfare changed in the 1940s and we went atomic, such contributions were recognized with the Legion of Merit. Test pilots in the 1950s got Distinguished Flying Crosses," said Sterner.

Online backlash against The Distinguished Warfare Medal is growing.

Some veterans are upset that pilots whose combat experience comes via computer screen will be honored in the same way as men and women putting their lives on the line.

But drone pilots see it differently.

"I'm living the same fight as those guys, or at least I'm seeing the same fight," Lieutenant Colonel Chris Gough told 60 Minutes in 2009.

"There are arguments that we aren't as engaged in the war. I've heard those arguments. And I can tell you that I've never been more engaged in a conflict in my life. Physiologically, the stimulus and response, exactly the same."

A petition on WhiteHouse.gov asking President Obama to demote the medal had over 13-thousand signatures by Friday afternoon.

For the White House to consider taking action, 100,000 signatures will be needed by mid-March.

But Doug Sterner is not optimistic. "The outcry and the outrage is probably doomed to failure, because the Pentagon has repeatedly demonstrated that they are an immovable object," he predicted.

During our interviews, both Hank and Doug downplayed the honors they had received for their service.

But stripes, stars, and hardware are not just about the veterans themselves.

"They are a legacy that is a part of family history. When your kids, grandkids, or great grandkids decades later say, ‘what did dad or what did mom do in Iraq or Afghanistan?' They are able to find the record of the awards they received for their distinguished service," explained Sterner.

Hank's son, Steve Hearon, agrees.

"As a family member, I think it's a wonderful thing to acknowledge his service and what he did. And he certainly put himself at risk to earn any of his medals.

"I'm really proud of him."

Libby Denkmann, Ron & Don Show Producer
Libby Denkmann is producer of KIRO Radio's The Ron & Don Show (weekdays 3-7). Libby is always on the run - literally.
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Comments (9)


  • Add A Comment

  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Our enemies will dub these coward medals.
    February 23, 2013 10:15 am
    Attacking from afar with no boots on the ground galvanizes our enemies resolve, as they view this kind of warfare as cowardly. Drone attacks make more enemies against us, increasing our troubles overseas. So, what do we do? We glorify our own cowardly actions. Right way, wrong way, military way.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    Saltchucker, Bollocks
    February 23, 2013 7:35 pm
    How one fights means nothing. The motives (and perceived motives) mean everything. Just ask any religious zealot (Muslim or otherwise).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pair o'dimes wrote...
    We don't line up and shoot at each other any more
    February 24, 2013 8:54 am
    So strapping bombs to women and children and having them blow up themselves and buses of civilians is much more noble? Please, terrorists have no rules of warfare, and have made a point of targeting civilians. Drones are an effective tool to hunt down those who are bravely hiding in caves and disguising themselves among the general populace, and using them is not cowardice,
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  • Roy232 wrote...
    U.S military are monsters
    February 25, 2013 1:43 am
    You do know that Obama has killed 200 innocent children right? you people are pathetic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    While there at it....
    February 24, 2013 6:14 am
    Why not award the grade of E-4 to recruits with exceptionaly high "Call of Duty" video game scores too. And then why stop, include a ribbon with a joy-stick on a Cheeto's colored background. How bout "no"?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kvnbeach wrote...
    Armed Forces, is a team name!
    February 24, 2013 7:20 am
    All soldiers in the Armed Forces are equal. It is not one soldier that dictates a battles, but all elements of that force. Any one man who thinks his actions are greater than the next, needs to be re-educated to understand that warfare is a team sport! Get over it. If a man kills from the ground or from the air, that mans conscience will still have problems. This is very selfish not to think these men who train just as hard as any other soldier, do not deserve praise for a job well done. A job that may have saved a foot soldiers life. Get over it and recognize the need for all aspects of warfare. Oh and Al-Queda cryin about us using an invisible force. It's called resolve
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  • kvnbeach wrote...
    to continue
    February 24, 2013 7:26 am
    Those of u that are military should hang your head in shame if you are critisizing this medal. How many lives did they save, how much money did they save, how much time did they save? U people sound jealous. These are our comrades, these men care if thier fellow soldiers live or not. This is were ur intelligence comes from. I have never heard so many military people whine. This is a TEAM. We are all on the same side. Embarrasing to be an American, when men and women whine about a new medal.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    @ kvnbeach. -------Yes, war is a team effort - BUT
    February 24, 2013 7:49 pm
    you seem to have a misconception as to what a MEDAL is for. .... Just what risk or danger is there to a drone warier? ... What valor has he or she achieved?

    This is NOT (as explained) a service of campaign medal for simply being IN the service at time of conflict. .... And if we start giving out medals for otherwise simply doing your duty well, shouldn't we start awarding medals for mess cooks or state side administrators? .. Heck, NCOs at boot camp put in a lot more effort (and sometimes face more real danger) than a drone pilot.

    .

    But, HEY. Our president LIKES drones. Maybe this is a way for HIM to get a medal for playing soldier.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    This is a joke.
    February 24, 2013 10:57 am
    A bronze star/V takes an act of valor, you have to put your life in danger. No way does sitting in front of a screen with a joy stick qualify. If any of you supporters had actually been in combat you would know the difference. Been there done that. There are awards they can give the drone pilots that aren't connected to an act of valor.
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