why do generals have more medels, than the people that earned them ??????????

They've been in longer (and had more chances to earn them), and perhaps some politicking in getting recommended and approved for some medals.

lol, look the Flag Officers have always gotten more, they have even given awards by rank at times, I was in Iraq and all the E-7's and above in the TOC got Bronze Stars (No V) and the guys who left the wire and actually did stuff got JCOMs, it happens all the time. Not to mention the fact that they do the write ups, like one of the guys above said. You also have to keep in mind that a lot of awards are just "Warm Body" awards, things like the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, etc...and the AF and Army even give out ribbons just for getting thru boot camp. So, when you look at a guys rack of ribbons, about half, myself included, are just for doing your job and you happen to be in during war so you get more.

Your average general and admiral has been in the military for around 30 years or so (General Petraeus has been in since 1974, for example) ; some of them are Vietnam veterans and seen more action than entire companies of troops put together.

Clearly you haven't looked into this.

At least in the Army, the enlisted men always have many more medals and ribbons than the officers. Generals are a very small and select group who are the best of the best. They damn well better have a lot of medals.

BTW they were platoon leaders and company commanders once...which is where they probably earned those 'medals.' Company command is one of the most challenging jobs in the Army, and if you think they don't see combat, take a look at the number of Captains who have been killed in combat since we have been in Iraq.

Also most enlisted men haven't been in as long as generals who have been in 26+ years. (I am including all flag officers, not just four stars)

Take a look at GEN Petraeus's career and you will see why he has all those medals.

For the same reasons that Command Sergeant Majors also have lots of medals:

1) being among the best

2) Seeking out tough assignments

3) Simply being in for many years

Right place right time don't let any one tell you that most generals active Right now witch makes them too young for Vietnam earn there metals any harder than lets say the 19 year old 11B kicking in doors in Iraq

Actually, generals have usually been in 30+ years.

That makes no sense. Generals have seen more and done more than several average soldiers put together. Quit making uneducated, idiotic statements.

Because officers write the official reports and tend to change the "minor details". For example, if you and your boys raid a village looking for bomb supplies and your point man takes out a suicide bomber from 30m. The report would read: "I, Lt. Brown saw the man wearing a bulky coat in 125 degree summer heat slowing sneaking up on my team. I jumped on a nearby child to shield them from the possible blast while firing my 9mm at the man's head and struck between the eyes. Then my pointman, private jones thanked me for saving his life."

why don't you use spell check?

and why must you include all the "?????"s?