Page 2 - Combat Badge News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

What year did you graduate from west point? >> 1969, sir. >> that's the height of the vietnam war, wasn't it, sir? >> the height was about that time. >> what was your class rank at west point? >> i was number 5. >> how many people in your class? >> 800. >> 800 cadets, you were number 5. >> yes, sir. >> when you were top 1% of your class at west point, you probably get your pick of assignments, but you picked the infantry. >> i did, sir. yes, sir. >> you were rifle company commander. >> sir? >> where'd you serve? >> in vietnam. >> did you see combat in vietnam, sir? >> i did. >> did you earn an...

Associated with? he serves as a top level stafferer on the national security counsel. he's served in the army on active duty for more than 20 years, joined as an infantry officer. in 2004 he deployed to the war in iraq and wounded in combat. he nevertheless stayed in theater, finished his deploy ed in 2005, he's earned the combat badge, a parachutist badge, wears the expert infantryman badge in addition to his purple heart for being wounded in combat. if you want to put a name to all those medal he bears on his uniform today, it would take you a long time do it as a civilian with all the medal...

And a rifle through the center. as a west point grad yourself and an army veteran yourself, tell our audience what that decoration is, and what it means to his fellow veterans and service members. >> that's the combat badge. it is an esteemed award given to those that actually fight as infantry men or special forces, colonel and below in actual combat action. >> for sustained days at a time. >> that's exactly right. it was developed during world war ii to be given to infantry men to give them some sort of status or incentivize them, make them feel like they had a great impeachment f achievemen...

A couple days ago reminding us of the story of major mat golsteyn accused of killing a bad guy the wrong way. >> big new development in this case. turns out the investigator in charge of his case, has now been found guilty of stolen valor. pretended to have a purple heashted. combat action badge. pretended to graduate from multiple military schools. this is the sergeant first class who has been in charge. he also faked being part of a special forces unit and said he was stripped of it. steve: if you can't trust him about that. pete: yes, that's what his lawyers are saying. they are waiving the...

>> one year later, here we are. we are in afghanistan. this should put a small and select group of individuals who are volunteering to serve their country. what we do is recognize the individuals who have earned either the combat badge, combat action bat and combat medical badge. ♪ ♪ >> ten years of combat. ten years. that could lead to 312 million people in our country. 51,585 have earned the combat brant exam. 61,000. for those getting your whereib today there are 61,000 others in the entire country and entire military. you are part of a small population volunteered to serve your country...