That's a pretty standard way to get a Medal of Honor. And it is a case of one's sacrificing one's life to save their buddies, no question about it. (The lucky ones are able to put a helmet over the grenade and lay on that. A little more survivable.)

I've always wondered, though. That's a split-second decision, a heroic and unselfish split-second decision I'll grant.

What about the folks who make decisions over time, who make very, very high risk and unselfish moves after giving it thought? It is much harder to get medals for them, although I'd say the courage demonstrated after consideration is certainly an equivalent.

Or the medics who approach a wounded person in the open? Clearly there is a field of fire or there wouldn't be wounded people. And those folks, so help me God, expose themselves to extreme danger, over and over. Hard to get 'em medals, though. Not impossible, but they don't get them at the rate which is deserved.

Arf