Was presenting the Medal of Honor to Emil Kapaun now a political decision?

The efforts to get him the medal, have been going on for years if not decades. By all accounts, he was fully deserving. They don't give these things to just anyone. Sometimes the wheels turn slowly........and yes, maybe politics causes some people to be noticed before others.

It's a little coincidental that his time finally came on the same day North Korea threatened to Nuke us..........but overall, and on the other hand.........any reason to finally push it thru and give the man his due, is long overdue.

I salute the man. And good on Obama for doing the right thing..........for whatever reasons.

I'm of the opinion that MoH upgrades are always somewhat political, since they usually involve lots of lobbying of politicians who put pressure on various agencies to review the awards submissions and come up with a different answer than they previously have. Which isn't to say it's partisan (eg Democrat/Republic) kind of "political", just that it is political.

However, that doesn't mean it has anything to do with our current situation with North Korea.

By the way, who doesn't love hearing the tales about "classified MoHs" from the Walts/Stolen Valor idiots? Everyone knows it's not true? Turns out there was one "classified" MoH (kinda), and it involves our friends the NorKs.

Of course not. It takes awhile to process any MOH recommendation. Not that long obviously..... But there is a LONG history of "lost" recommendations coming to light many years later, and once brought back to light they still take awhile. Or, in other words this has been in the works since LONG before North Korea started acting up, this time. USAF Chief Master Sgt Richard Etchberger was posthumously awarded the MOH in 2010. He was killed in Vietnam in 1968..... MSG Roy Benavidez was awarded the MOH in 1981, he earned it in 1968. COL Bruce Crandall was awarded the MOH in 2007, he earned it in 1965. PVT Shinyei Nakamine was posthumously awarded the MOH in 2000. He earned it in 1944. President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the MOH in 2001, he earned it in 1898......... There are MANY other examples of very belated MOH's finally being awarded.

And since North Korea has done this EXACT same thing, dozens of times over the past few decades, why choose this time to make this "political decision"??

The Present climate may have played somewhat of a part. However this

man certainly deserved the CMH. Without fail. His unselfish acts of care

and concern for his fellow military members is what the medal is all about.

Peace unto him and his family.

Definitely. They had 60 YEARS to give him that medal and they wait until things between NK and the USA are hot. He deserved the medal but he should not have been used as a political pawn in the Obama Vs Kim Show.

Efforts to get him the medal have gone on for years.