Woman Becomes First Openly Gay General

[J. J.]

I'm more impressed with her Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge than I am with her sexual preference. 

[J. J.]

I'm more impressed with her Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge than I am with her sexual preference. 

She's also got a senior parachutist badge and a parachute rigger badge, which is cool...but she's got no Valor devices and no Purple Heart...so she's probably never seen real action.  Some of those (Legion of Merit, Bronze Star) they just give you for not being a douche and being a high rank.

You do for the CAB, and only recently (2003?). 

The Bronze Star can be for meritorious service, but still in a combat zone.  Much of the time, the the Legion of Merit is a "retirement" medal.  I know about 4-5 people who have them, and only one was not presented on retirement (another brigadier).