Presidential Trivia

[J. J.]

@JJ, TR got the Medal of Honor psthumoisly in 2001 as I recall.

Correct.

Now, who won the highest valor award during his lifetime?  And this is surprising. 

Consider, that they had no valor awards until the 1860's and that until WW I, they only had the MOH.  That should limit it a bit.

[politicus]

Calvin Coolidge

[J. J.]

Calvin Coolidge

I don't think he ever served.  There are actually relatively presidents that are old enough to have fought in World War I, or a later war.  Valor medal are usually given only for actions involving contact with an enemy.

[A cowboy always follows his beard]

Calvin Coolidge

I don't think he ever served.  There are actually relatively presidents that are old enough to have fought in World War I, or a later war.  Valor medal are usually given only for actions involving contact with an enemy.

Presidents who didn't serve, by the way:
Adams (both)
Van Buren
Cleveland
Taft
Wilson
Harding
Coolidge
Hoover
FDR
Clinton
Obama.

[politicus]

Calvin Coolidge

I don't think he ever served.  There are actually relatively presidents that are old enough to have fought in World War I, or a later war.  Valor medal are usually given only for actions involving contact with an enemy.

Hope you noticed the smiley. Silent Cal was the most unlikely I could think of.

[True Federalist]

Now, who won the highest valor award during his lifetime?  And this is surprising.

What's so surprising? George H. W. Bush - Distinguished Flying Cross

[Vasall des Midas]

Phew. I read your reply and for a second overlooked the H. [/wipes sweat off brow]

[politicus]

Now, who won the highest valor award during his lifetime?  And this is surprising.

What's so surprising? George H. W. Bush - Distinguished Flying Cross

If that's correct, it is not surprising at all. He would have been my guess if J. J. hadn't said the answer was "surprising".

[True Federalist]

Now, who won the highest valor award during his lifetime?  And this is surprising.

What's so surprising? George H. W. Bush - Distinguished Flying Cross

If that's correct, it is not surprising at all. He would have been my guess if J. J. hadn't said the answer was "surprising".

You tend to think most of Ike when you think of military presidents, but he was stuck stateside during the Great War and by World War II he was too far removed from the fighting to likely be in a situation where he would win a valor award.

Also, JFK's award for what happened after the PT-109 was sunk, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, is considered a non-valor award, since it was for heroic actions that took place outside combat.  (It's also junior to the DFC even if it were a valor award.)

If it had been in existence at the time, Ford probably would have gotten a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions in saving the USS Monterey.  If he'd had the connections Jack had, he likely would have gotten a Bronze Star, but he didn't, so he was one of many who might have gotten a Bronze Star in World War II, but did not.

[crypto-fascist superhero]

LBJ got probably the most undeserved Silver Star in history (for being a passenger on a bomber for all of 8 minutes of combat).

[True Federalist]

LBJ got probably the most undeserved Silver Star in history (for being a passenger on a bomber for all of 8 minutes of combat).

And that trumps a DFC, but it wasn't even 8 minutes of combat.  No wonder JJ said it was surprising.  I could see Johnson getting an Air Medal for his little joyride, but even if his aircraft hadn't had to turn back for mechanical reasons, there is no way what he did was Silver Star worthy or even DFC worthy.

[J. J.]

LBJ got probably the most undeserved Silver Star in history (for being a passenger on a bomber for all of 8 minutes of combat).

LBJ is the correct answer.  The Silver Star is both a higher award than the DFC.  Also naval aviators can receive the DFC as a non-valor award.   His citation does not show a "valor device."  http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq10-2.htm

[J. J.]

LBJ got probably the most undeserved Silver Star in history (for being a passenger on a bomber for all of 8 minutes of combat).

And that trumps a DFC, but it wasn't even 8 minutes of combat.  No wonder JJ said it was surprising.  I could see Johnson getting an Air Medal for his little joyride, but even if his aircraft hadn't had to turn back for mechanical reasons, there is no way what he did was Silver Star worthy or even DFC worthy.

It was surprising, because of the limited involvement LBJ had in the action.  He was there on a fact finding mission, and not a direct combatant. 

In most of Johnson's official photographs as president, he can be seen wearing the Silver Star lapel pin.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson

JFK's Navy and Marine Corps Medal, while rarely awarded and marks heroism that, if in combat, is worthy of the Medal of Honor, is not considered a valor award and is considered lower ranking than the Silver Star.

[J. J.]

If it had been in existence at the time, Ford probably would have gotten a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions in saving the USS Monterey.  If he'd had the connections Jack had, he likely would have gotten a Bronze Star, but he didn't, so he was one of many who might have gotten a Bronze Star in World War II, but did not.

The Achievement Medal now is generally given for basically doing your (noncombatant) job reasonably well.  A friend of mine won several of the Army version by being stationed in Philadelphia with a National Guard band unit (and never being promoted above Specialist). 

[Senator Snowstalker]

Here's one I just read about: Which former presidential candidate accidentally killed a young girl?

[Hatman]

Ted Kennedy?

[Senator Snowstalker]

By "young" I mean a minor.

It's someone who got a party nomination and may or may not have gotten the presidency.

[J. J.]

Here's one I just read about: Which former presidential candidate accidentally killed a young girl?

Ted Kennedy, though that probably isn't the one you are thinking about.

[Senator Snowstalker]

Nope, not him. Once again, this person got the nomination, and it was a minor, not the Chappaquiddick incident.

[Senator Snowstalker]

A hint: It was with a gun.

[A cowboy always follows his beard]

John McCain?

[Senator Snowstalker]

No, military service doesn't count.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Andrew Jackson dueled at least 13 people, so was one of them a minor?

[politicus]

Andrew Jackson dueled at least 13 people, so was one of them a minor?

I doubt he dueled a girl

[Senator Snowstalker]

No, not him.

Hint #2: This person never became president.