Somebody took their time
 

It's taken 36 years to recognise this guys bravery :nope:

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,164470,00.html

A Commendation Medal is not exactly up there in awards it's mainly for achievement or meritorious service. The V for valor device makes it something more but.............. A little odd to say the least. I've actually never heard of it used like that until now.

well, it might sound unreasonable, but many secret missions executed in the past are only unvealed in the recent years. Let's say, the British intelligence group cracked Engima in WWII, only to have their achievement unvealed more than 20 years later, when electronic encryption become common and rotar type cipher machine become obsolete.

Same story goes for many special mission carried out.

So, it might seem to be unfair for those participitants, but it is something common instead of rare.

In our military they can still be awarded for covert/clandestine operations just the citation etc would be in their secret file which is kept separate from their 201 general military record. That way it will be known they are authorized to wear and get credit for the award but not know exactly what it was for.