Ike, Marshall stuck to modesty
Re “Petraeus’ ‘ribbon creep,’ ” Opinion, April 9
I remember the photos of Dwight Eisenhower and Army Gen. George C. Marshall from the school books and Time magazines of the 1950s. They were men who had to impress no one. They managed an army of conscripts and citizen soldiers who died by the thousands without night-vision goggles or body armor. It was an Army of Jeeps and M-1 rifles, but at least with substantial moral righteousness behind the violence.
The generals then were not perfect, but they knew it and they had lost the need to wear a lot of decoration that flaunted the cost of the courage of other men.
Ike went on to lead this country ably, if quietly, warning us against the military-industrial complex gaining so much power, and Marshall earned the gratitude of an entire generation of Europeans, including those we defeated. Where are the generals of that caliber now?
Eric Johnson
San Pedro
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If you appear in military uniform, you don’t have a choice about which military decorations to wear. You’re obligated to wear them all, and in the proper order. As a high-ranking officer, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus gets no pass in this area. Rather, he gets the extra responsibility to set the right example. Matthew DeBord has some responsibility as well. While he is entitled to his opinion, he has a responsibility to get the backdrop correct.
Walter C.
Rosenstrom
Merced
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As much of an ardent admirer I am of our armed forces in general and Petraeus in particular, the award-spangled uniform is a bit much. Petraeus would do well to drop the Russian field marshal routine and emulate the late Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who gave his farewell speech to Congress wearing a uniform bereft of all decorations save the five stars denoting his rank.
Brian Parker
Dana Point
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Napoleon Bonaparte said, “A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.” I think Petraeus would have better conveyed his message if he had appeared in combat fatigues. The only thing on his chest that impressed me was the Combat Infantryman Badge.
John Lay
Edmonds, Wash.