Pete Hegseth medal flap puts focus on what it takes to earn a Bronze Star

A Bronze Star medal like the two awarded to former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, is a recognition of a specific incident of heroism on the battlefield — where a “V” device for valor is added to the medal — or for meritorious service over an extended period of time.

But in either case, the Bronze Star is only awarded to military personnel operating in a combat theater.

Some critics of Mr. Hegseth, a former Fox News personality who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army officer, have derided his Bronze Star medals as little more than “participation trophies” because they were routinely awarded for meritorious service.

Supporters of Mr. Hegseth say the criticism is just one more example of critics trying to smear Mr. Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon.

Mark Lucas, who followed Mr. Hegseth as head of the advocacy group Concerned Veterans for America, said a focus on whether the Bronze Stars featured a “V” device overlooks the full scope of Mr. Hegseth’s actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also received the coveted Combat Infantryman’s Badge, known as a CIB, which is awarded only to infantry soldiers who carry out their duties while under enemy fire.

“He was kicking in doors. He was in some serious combat,” Mr. Lucas said Friday in an interview with The Washington Times. “There are guys who got [military decorations] like candy, but Pete Hegseth was not one of those guys.”

Mr. Lucas said he has known Mr. Hegseth for more than a decade. Both of them served as officers in the same National Guard division. 

“I don’t remember Pete ever talking that much about his combat awards,” he said.

The first Bronze Star was awarded to Mr. Hegseth for his assignment in Iraq as a rifle platoon leader in Iraq from September 2005 to July 2006. The citation noted his “professionalism and commitment to excellence” while he was with the 101st Airborne Division. He received the second Bronze Star in 2012 after serving as a counterinsurgency instructor in Afghanistan.

Mr. Lucas pushed back against anonymous allegations that Mr. Hegseth had a history of drinking heavily at work, even while he was running Concerned Veterans for America. He denied that Mr. Hegseth was pushed out of the organization.

“Everything they’re telling me doesn’t correspond with my time with Pete,” he said. “I’ve been in social settings with him and wasn’t like that. I’ve been in professional settings with him and he wasn’t like that.”

He said CVA was a smooth-running operation when he took over operations from Mr. Hegseth who had left to take a position at Fox News. Mr. Hegseth’s work at CVA helped pave the way for the passage of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act

“He left [CVA] in outstanding shape. He had a really good team which I retained,” Mr. Lucas said. “I didn’t need to ‘turn around’ CVA. I needed to keep up with them.”

Dozens of military veterans signed a letter praising the selection of Mr. Hegseth and noting his service in combat and later work as an advocate for veterans. 

“We are pleased to see an outstanding veteran nominated to lead the Department of Defense. Hegseth is a decorated combat veteran who served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, deploying overseas to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan,” a supporter wrote in a letter released by the Heritage Foundation think tank. 

“Since then, he has worked tirelessly to support American troops and is committed to rebuilding the American military into a fighting force that is capable of defending the national security interests of the American people,” the letter stated.

Mr. Lucas said he’s prepared to testify in favor of Mr. Hegseth when the nomination comes before the Senate.

“He’s a man of action. I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people and be a star,” he said.