Talk:"V" device/Archives/2012/May

Statement
Is this statement true: "The Valor device denotes those individuals who were awarded a decoration as a result of direct combat with an enemy force. It may also denote accomplishment of a heroic nature or valorous acts in direct support of operations against an enemy force."

I know the second sentence is true, but I don't believe the first is. I was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for several instances of direct contact with an enemy force while in Iraq as well as a number of non-combat service related actions, but I do not wear the 'V' device. The reason, I believe, is because I was not awarded the BSM for a specific valorous act or actions during combat with the enemy force. I was awarded a meritorious medal for service that included combat action. -unsigned by User:Atfyfe 19Feb06


 * I work at the National Personnel Records Center and one of my main duties is verifying military awards like the Purple heart and the Valor Device. The statement above is quite true.  You might not have been awarded it becuase it must be personally recommended and approved by an awarding authority and the person must have done something that, in the higher command opinion's, warrants valor.  The Valor Device is by no means automatic. -Husnock 02:44, 20 March 2006 (UTC)

I corrected a section in History on Jeremy Michael Boorda and cited the source of information. I also deleted a small blurb on reports of Boorda's mental illness; it has no relevance to this topic, if anywhere that information should be directly on Boorda's page.SouthStExit 15:16, 25 August 2007 (UTC)

Can someone describe all of the potential conflicts and hierarchy of all the attachments? I'm trying to develop a tool that graphically builds an accurate medals and awards display but can't seem to find complete info. Thanks --Jeffreyduck (talk) 15:19, 21 February 2008 (UTC)


 * The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with or without the "V" (valor) device is a U.S. Military decoration. The BSM is awarded (in all service branches) "for heroic or meritorious achievment or service". The V" Device or "Combat Distinguishing Device" (Navy/Marine/Coast Guard; Combat "V") and other authorized service devices (service stars, campaign stars,...) are affixed to an authorized service award (ribbon bar, medal, badge...). See the Department of Defense Manual, 1348.33, Vol. 1-3, November 23, 2010 and other service manuals for referencing. — Preceding unsigned comment added by YahwehSaves (talk • contribs)

Removed Material
Per WP:Talk, specifically:
 * Talk pages are for discussing the article, not for general conversation about the article's subject (much less other subjects). Keep discussions focused on how to improve the article. Irrelevant discussions are subject to removal

I went ahead and supported the revert of this discussion. I suggest we move on. -OberRanks (talk) 12:23, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Recent edits
Hello, YahwehSaves. I'm going to partially revert some of the edits you made yesterday because they don't improve the phrasing, or create problems. For example, replacing "valor" with "heroism" when the device is meant to denote valor isn't an improvement. Granted, valorous actions and heroic actions may be indistinguishable, but why keep replacing "valor" with "heroism" when this it the "V" device, not the "H" device, etc.? You've also twice removed the part that explains that the reason why medals like the Navy Cross and the Silver Star (i.e., because the award itself is issued for valor); you keep changing that to just say its "not authorized" or that "it's not used". You also changed the text to say that the device is worn on a "combat" award instead of a "decoration or award", which can create confusion because some of the medals that the "V" can be worn on (Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, etc) are dual status (combat and non-combat) while others are not (Silver Star, etc)... and the sentence in which you made the edit already has the word "combat" in it twice more. In my opinion, some of your edits helped and many others didn't, so I've resolved to post you a message here asking that you break up your edits into different sections and do not bunch them all up into once mass change in order to make this process easier. This way, different editors can interact better on the changes since there seems to be a lot of disagreement over specific things. Cool with you? Thanks, AzureCitizen (talk) 13:47, 28 April 2012 (UTC)
 * No offense, I was trying to balance things, refering to what the medal with V, citations, actually say in it which is for heroism or heroic actions and courage. "Valor" is usually not written into most citations except for MOH. Navy Cross ("for extraordinary heroism") is written in those citations. BSM for "heroic achievment", is in it or heroism or heroic actions and the citations say the device is "authorized, to be worn". Commendations with V for heroic..., Soldiers Medal, for heroism or heroic..., on and on. Articles are/were showing too much the attached devices actually are awards and awarded and created problems not me. The V Article information content was poorly done to begin with (look at how the "Valor device" article was before I started editing it compared to how it now-- read Matt Urban article, Talk - valor device and disruptive edits). Hope this helps to improve things. — Preceding unsigned comment added by YahwehSaves (talk • contribs)
 * Valor and heroism are certainly close in their meanings, if you look at their definitions and synonyms. If the word "heroism" (or its variations) appear very frequently in the citations, I wouldn't be adverse to us adding the words "and heroism" in a couple locations where we use the word "valor" to pair the two together; I was just didn't want us to outright replace one with the other given the symbolism of the "V".  With regard to articles saying that a device is an award, perhaps you could point us to specific instances by copying text to a Talk Page and pointing it out explicitly?  I'm not presently aware of any articles which do that but I agree it should remedied if there are instances of it. AzureCitizen (talk) 01:39, 29 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Since you asked: This V article listed here as you know was "Valor device" until you changed it to "V" Device on 4/27: On 3/4 I had changed it to "V" (valor) Device... I also changed the introduction there that said it "is an award" and in Criteria there too where it said, "the Valor device is worn as a one-time decoration". The V is not neither. Bullmoosebell on 4/21 deleted my changes (carelessly as usual) back to how it was March 3. Once you found the "award device" a few days ago in the DoD Manual (its not used in other manuals and only once in the DoD) he's been changing device articles to, to, "is an award device". Now, he's critizing me here in Talk here again, like he did in Matt Urban Talk (with some other editor who intimidated me for using the DoD Manual, both were against "V" Device usage) for not "checking" the other manuals which you know I've been doing.
 * FYI: Each branch: "The BSM is awarded for heroic achievement and meritorious achievement or service"). Navy/Marine/CG were awarded thousands of Bronze Star Medals with "V"'s ("Authorized to wear the Combat V" written on their BSM award citations). In, SECNAVYINST 1650.1, 18 Dec. 1944: BSM, "Awarded.... "Minor acts of heroism in actual combat, single acts of merit or meritorious service in, or in support of, sustained operations against the enemy may justify this award." — Preceding unsigned comment added by YahwehSaves (talk • contribs)

Okay, I've rearranged the article such that the key differences between the services are right at the top in the 2nd paragraph of the lede (since the criteria varies) and reorganized the list of decorations and awards into a table separated by branch of service. Hopefully this will set the article on the right path for the future. Regards, AzureCitizen (talk) 21:29, 30 April 2012 (UTC)

Notable recipients
Is this long list of V recipients needed? V is not a medal (not an award by itself or awarded by itself). Vs are for use on various medals and ribbons as distinguishing devices. Nothing on list shows what medal with V any of the recipients was awarded. Maybe listing a handful of names showing exactly what was awarded like the, Bronze Star Medal with V (Audie Murphy, Robert Dole) Army Commendation Medal with V, Navy Achievement Medal with V ... — Preceding unsigned comment added by YahwehSaves (talk • contribs) 00:47, 6 May 2012 (UTC)

Name of the Article - "Valor" or "V" Device?
(Conversation continued from the 5/16 inch star device Talk Page): Would you take a look and consider what to do about the "Valor device" article. Its officially named "V" Device (DoD Manual). — Preceding unsigned comment added by YahwehSaves (talk • contribs)
 * It appears that the device really is called the "V" Device, as opposed to the Valor Device. There are 26 mentions of "valor" in DoDM 1348.33 Vol 1 and 42 more in Vol 3, but at no point is it referred to as a Valor Device... it's always "V" Device.  I have no doubt that the "V" is intended to represent valor, but we should probably correct the article accordingly.  Does anyone else have any perspective on this or points to contribute, before we fix this? AzureCitizen (talk) 22:11, 26 April 2012 (UTC)
 * I agree. Each service's reference literature describe the device as the "V" Device. Though it is used to denote the decoration being awarded for Valor as opposed to service, it's title describes the device, not the meaning (like the other single-letter devices; "A" "E" "M" "N" "S").
 * On that note, those devices' articles should be reflected as they are described in each reference manual. For instance, the Mobilization Device should be the "M" Device, the A Device should be titled the "A" Device, so on, so forth. Your thoughts? Bullmoosebell (talk) 23:41, 26 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Air Force: AFI 36-2803
 * Army: AR 600-8-22
 * Coast Guard: CIM 1650 25D
 * Navy & Marine Corps: DoD 1348.33-M Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3

Good point, there may be multiple articles here that need to be re-named to the actual device names ("V" Device, "M" Device, etc.) Let's go ahead and start implementing fixes based on the rationale of the service regulations above... AzureCitizen (talk) 02:52, 27 April 2012 (UTC)
 * YahwehSaves (a.k.a. 75.79.31.20), just understand that DoD 1348.33-M does not supersede other service's reference material (listed above). So when citing references, be sure to check them all. Bullmoosebell (talk) 00:28, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

I explained this before and to you at the Matt Urban Article Talk, The DoD Manual 1348.33, V1-3 (2010), is the most current manual. For example, the Air Force Manual (2001) and Army Manual (2006) still use "service stars" for the Vietnam Service Medal and the USN/USMC Manual (2006) uses "engagement stars", the DoD manual uses "campaign stars" and explains that the VSM is correctly a "campaign medal" and not really a "service medal". When you also update the VSM, service star, and engagement star articles for example, the DoD Manual is the most up to date and accurate manual to reference besides the other manuals.