... your observation:

>> There is no such award as the Congressional Medal of Honor,
>> by the way, although it is often incorrectly called by that term.

... is technically correct. The official name is "Medal of Honor". However, they are awarded in the name of Congress (not the service involved) and for that reason often referred to as "Congressional Medals of Honor". There is one federal law which specifically calls them that (18 U.S. Code 704, which establishes criminal penalties for misuse of the medal). Also, the Congressionally authorized society for winners of the medal is called the "Congressional Medal of Honor Society".

>> One small quibble with the story that is being circulated
>> on the Net, there is no evidence that the bad guys were
>> "terrorists" although they were certainly "insurgents."

Hadn't really noticed that usage, David, but I agree with the distinction.

When I was a youngster (mid-1950's) I met a guy who won the MOH by jumping on a grenade in a foxhole in Europe. He survived, but was horribly scarred over much of his body, lost a number of internal organs and walked with difficulty due to the leg and hip joint injuries he suffered. He and my Dad were both circulation managers for the Long Island Daily Press at the time. He said that when it happened, he acted instinctively. He almost certainly saved the lives of the guys in the foxhole at the time, including his own.

----- jim o\-S