Some recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom vs. the Medal of Honor

Donald Trump had this to say. Read it carefully:

“I saw Sheldon sitting so proudly in the White House when we awarded Miriam the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It's the highest award a civilian can receive. It's the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, only the civilian version. Actually, it's much better because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they're soldiers. They're either in very bad shape because they've been hit by bullets so many times, or they're dead. She gets it, and she's a healthy, beautiful woman. And they're equal, but she got the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [applause] And their rating is the same.”

The person he is referring to is Meriam Adelson. She is extraordinarily wealthy and has a net worth of $28 billion, acquired mostly through inheritance the good old American way. She is happy to use this money for all Trump causes and has donated literally hundreds of millions of dollars to Trump and related campaigns and PACS for him, earning her “equivalent” to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Also significant are the last two recipients of the Presidential Medal of Honor that Trump received. They are Gary Player and Annika Sorenstam. They played golf. I assume they played golf very well. Trump chose January 7, 2021, the day after the siege of the Capitol, to award them this award, which is supposedly equivalent to the Medal of Honor.

To allow equal time, I will also discuss the three most recent recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. They are Christopher Celiz, Alwyn Cashe and Earl Plumlee, to whom President Biden awarded the medal in a joint ceremony on December 16, 2021.

Christopher Celiz: When Sergeant First Class Celiz was awarded the Medal of Honor on December 16, 2021, he was not present to accept it. He died in combat on July 12, 2018. His widow, Katherine Celiz, and daughter, Shannon Celiz, accepted the award on his behalf.

On the day of his death, Christopher Celiz's unit came under heavy fire in Afghanistan. Celiz exposed himself to enemy fire to recover a heavy weapon. Using this weapon, Celiz and his unit were able to clear enough space for a helicopter to land and evacuate wounded. Celiz was helping load wounded into the helicopter when it came under heavy fire. Celiz physically placed himself between the incoming fire and the cockpit and returned fire. Celiz was shot and took bullets that would have hit the helicopter. His last act was to order the helicopter crew to take off without taking it off, saving them and the wounded on board.

Alwyn Cashe: He received his Medal of Honor in the same ceremony as Celiz, but died much earlier, on November 8, 2005. His widow, Tamara Cashe, accepted the award on his behalf. Originally awarded the Silver Star, Cashe's medal was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Sergeant First Class Cashe lost his own life while saving the lives of six fellow soldiers. When his Bradley Fighting Vehicle struck a mine, it caught fire. Cashe got out of the vehicle but returned to free the driver, who was himself engulfed in flames. After freeing the driver, Cashe successfully extinguished the flames with his body, but his fuel-soaked uniform itself began to burn. Cashe suffered severe and painful burns, but he went to the rear of the burning vehicle and rescued five more soldiers from it. By now, Cashe had suffered second and third degree burns to 72% of his body. He stayed to assist the other wounded and refused medical evacuation until all other wounded soldiers had been evacuated. Cashe died from his burns.

Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee: Is the only recipient present to accept the Medal of Honor at this ceremony on December 16, 2021. On August 28, 2013, a massive explosion ripped through the wall of their base in Afghanistan. Enemy soldiers in bomb vests poured through. Plumlee, with only his pistol as a weapon, rushed to the scene and engaged several enemy soldiers, shooting at them with his pistol while advancing alone against many enemy soldiers. His actions enabled his unit to organize a counterattack, and his actions saved the base and hundreds of lives.

Regarding his award, Plumlee said the medal was “presented to me, but it is by no means mine.”

I suppose these men could have played golf, but probably not very well. Christopher Celiz and Alwyn Cashe did not “buy” their awards with donations to a politician, but with the currency of their lives.

Donald Trump has no respect for the military and the sacrifices such people make. He never has. A nation that honors people like Celiz, Cashe and Plumlee would not put someone like Donald Trump in command of the rest of those who wear a uniform.