WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined a bipartisan group of Senators last week in writing U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to urge him to preserve the precedence of combat decorations over a new medal honoring drone pilots and cyber warriors.

A recent decision by the Department of Defense gave the newly-created Distinguished Warfare Medal precedence above combat awards like the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

The letter reads in part:

“While we support the Defense Department’s decision to authorize a new decoration – the Distinguished Warfare Medal – as a way to recognize silent warriors, such as drone pilots and cyber warriors, we adamantly oppose the decision to elevate this award above those earned in direct combat. We recognize that military awards should be updated as the tactics of warfare change. Yet, we maintain that heroism and personal courage in combat do not change from generation to generation, and should be held sacred and awarded accordingly.

“We believe that medals earned in combat, or in dangerous conditions, should maintain their precedence above non-combat awards. Placing the Distinguished Warfare Medal above the Bronze Star and Purple Heart diminishes the significance of awards earned by risking one’s life in direct combat or through acts of heroism. Moreover, the Distinguished Warfare Medal’s placement directly above the Soldier’s Medal – an award for bravery and voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy – diminishes the precedence given to acts of individual gallantry in circumstances other than combat.”

A copy of the complete letter is attached.

Also signing the letter were: Senators Ayotte (R-NH), Begich (D-AK), Blumenthal (D-CT), Boozman (R-AR), Donnelly (D-IN), Heitkamp (D-ND), Heller (R-NV), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Landrieu (D-LA), Leahy (D-VT), Machin (D-WV), McCaskill (D-MO), Murkowski (R-AK), Rockefeller (D-WV), Sanders (I-VT), Shaheen (D-NH), Stabenow (D-MI), Tester (D-MT), Warner (D-VA), Udall (D-NM), Whitehouse (D-RI).

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