Medal of Honor "winners"? WTF?

[Colonel Angus]

Is it just me or does it grate on anybody else when recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor are referred to as "winners" of said medal?

Case in point: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24988705/

In referring to Jack Lucas, who received the medal at age 17:

"He was the youngest serviceman to win the Medal of Honor in any conflict other than the Civil War."

To me, the word "win" sounds like something you receive via a victory in some kind of competiton, by random chance, (like "winning" the lottery, Publishers' Clearinghouse, etc.) or other such event.

I don't think most MOH recipients refer to themselves as "winners." No doubt they all EARNED that recognition for heroic, lifesaving actions -- and should be referred to as such, even though I don't think "earner" is a real word and "recipient" is too long to fit in most headlines.

"Winner" just seems to sell these great Americans short, IMHO.

Rant over. Discuss.

 

[Buck]

It's been a common form of reference for service medals and awards for a long, long time.
Most of the people I know who have 'won' a medal use the expression.
My father doesn't say he 'earned' a bronze star and a silver star. He says 'won.'
It's an accepted phrase.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Col. Angus, what would you prefer?

 

[Colonel Angus]

Col. Angus, what would you prefer?

I don't know, really. I was just wondering if anybody else felt the same way I do or if I'm just psycho (wait, don't answer that).

I understand completely that "to win" and "winner" fits much better into headlines, and to give credit to the AP writer of the above-referenced story, he did use the words "recipient" and "earned" in the first two grafs, even if the Web editor at MSNBC used "winner" in the headline.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

I wouldn't use "winner." Especially if he died while earning the medal, which is sometimes the case.

 

[joe]

"Honored with."

All the Medal of Honor recipients from Iraq and Afghanistan have been awarded them posthumously, including the latest, a 19-year-old specialist who dove on a grenade thrown into his Humvee. Nineteen. I don't know if jesus wept, but I nearly did.

 

[Batman]

"Honored with."

All the Medal of Honor recipients from Iraq and Afghanistan have been awarded them posthumously, including the latest, a 19-year-old specialist who dove on a grenade thrown into his Humvee. Nineteen. I don't know if jesus wept, but I nearly did.

I was going to say, I doubt most MOH recipients refer to themselves at all. Doing what they did to earn the award usually gets them killed.

Oh, and I believe it's just the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to AP style.

 

[Buck]

The point is the same whether you're talking about the Medal of Honor or another service medal.
The word 'win' is commonly used. There's nothing wrong with it.

 

[Killick]

I've come across that many times in my reading. My sense of it is that military-types never say "won" when it comes to the MOH. They tend to say the honor is "earned".

I'd go with that usage, rather than "won," because it calls to attention a little better the gallantry and sacrifice that earned the distinction.

 

[forever_town]

Earned, honored with, won.

Any of them are fine, though I see your point.

 

[StevieNicks]

I wouldn't use "winner." Especially if he died while earning the medal, which is sometimes the case.

Frank, you are a wise man.

 

[User 1019]

"Honored with."

All the Medal of Honor recipients from Iraq and Afghanistan have been awarded them posthumously, including the latest, a 19-year-old specialist who dove on a grenade thrown into his Humvee. Nineteen. I don't know if jesus wept, but I nearly did.

I don't think he's been awarded the MOH, yet. It takes a very extensive investigation to uncover all the facts and award the medal.

SFC Smith died in 2003, and was just awarded his medal.

 

[alleyallen]

Just a note to back up what TBF was saying...

Within the military journalism ranks, since most MOH recipients are indeed deceased when it's given, they're usually referred to as being "awarded." And it's the Medal of Honor...plain and simple. Nothing Congressional in the name, anymore.

 

[User 1019]

"Honored with."

All the Medal of Honor recipients from Iraq and Afghanistan have been awarded them posthumously, including the latest, a 19-year-old specialist who dove on a grenade thrown into his Humvee. Nineteen. I don't know if jesus wept, but I nearly did.

I don't think he's been awarded the MOH, yet. It takes a very extensive investigation to uncover all the facts and award the medal.

SFC Smith died in 2003, and was just awarded his medal.

I stand corrected on that kid. His has been awarded. I just read it in the Army Times.

 

[Buck]

Just a note to back up what TBF was saying...

Within the military journalism ranks, since most MOH recipients are indeed deceased when it's given, they're usually referred to as being "awarded." ...

But 'awarded' lacks the connotation of 'earning.' It's more akin to being 'granted' or having the medal 'conferred upon' the recipient. It's passive.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Just a note to back up what TBF was saying...

Within the military journalism ranks, since most MOH recipients are indeed deceased when it's given, they're usually referred to as being "awarded." ...

But 'awarded' lacks the connotation of 'earning.' It's more akin to being 'granted' or having the medal 'conferred upon' the recipient. It's passive.

I agree, but in journalism writing I would go with "awarded." It's a good description of what Congress is doing while avoiding the value judgment of "earned." (unless the reporter was there to witness the alleged honorable acts himself)

 

[Football_Bat]

Many journalists (and their copy editors) are taught to write in active voice. "Win" is active; "was awarded" is passive.

 

[alleyallen]

Just a note to back up what TBF was saying...

Within the military journalism ranks, since most MOH recipients are indeed deceased when it's given, they're usually referred to as being "awarded." ...

But 'awarded' lacks the connotation of 'earning.' It's more akin to being 'granted' or having the medal 'conferred upon' the recipient. It's passive.

If you get a chance to talk to any living MOH recipients, a lot of them will tell you they didn't "earn" it. They were just doing their duty.

 

[Dedo]

At our paper, which has a large military readership base, this topic is addressed this in our stylebook. Medals of Honor are awarded and received, never won.

For those worried about active voice, "received the Medal of Honor" works. And when you think about it, avoiding the verb "win" only makes sense. This is not a prize that is sought after by the recipients. If anything, it's an easy enough guideline to follow, and it will prevent you from ever having to answer dozens of e-mails from retired colonels and sergeants pointing out your mistake.

 

[Colonel Angus]

Oh, and I believe it's just the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to AP style.

Thanks for that correction, Bats. I've been out of the biz for a while and forgot to steal the book from my last job.