December 27, 2005: The U.S. Department of Defense is awarding medals to troops who participated in relief efforts in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Actually, two medals may be awarded to participants; Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM), and Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM). Members of the Coast Guard (which belongs to the Department of Homeland Security) are eligible as well. HSM will go to troops who were involved in immediate relief operations from August 29th to October 13th , while operating in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, or east of 98 degrees west longitude in Texas. Troops get the AFSM if, between August 27th, 2005, and February 27th, 2006, they provided support for the relief effort, anywhere in the United States, for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. Those who qualify can get both medals.

While we tend to think of the many medals (usually in the form of colored ribbons) soldiers wear on their chests as representing combat achievements, but very few are. Less than one percent of the "chest candy" is awarded for combat operations. Instead, awards are made for non-combat achievements, although some of these involve danger and physical risk. For example, the army's Soldiers Medal is awarded to those who perform heroically (like saving the life of another soldier) in peacetime. With all the weapons and dangerous equipment in the army, there are ample opportunities to win this one.

Medals are most often awarded to recognize those participating in a military operation. These awards are often unique to a particular operation (like the current war in Iraq, or the 1991 Gulf War.) The most common medals are for extraordinary efforts in technical, staff or leadership positions. Often, these are given out a little too freely, which makes the top combat awards (Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star) all the more valuable. Troops quickly learn to decipher all the colored ribbons, representing the medals, that are worn on uniforms. Purple hearts jump out. Other key awards are even more prominent, like the Combat Infantry or Combat Action Badge (for at least 30 days service in combat), the paratrooper wings and the patch showing the unit you have served with while in combat.

All these badges, patches and ribbons represent the military history of those wearing them, but only if you know the language.