I was thinking after reading the posts on the Air India crash, a number of DSMs were awarded on that occasion. One of those awarded was for the Master of L.E. Aisling, Capt Jim Robinson, who will shortly retire from the Naval service.
It is generally assumed that as Officer in charge of the rescue attempts, his decoration was for the crew of the vessel, rather than just for any single action he himself carried out on that difficult day. Not saying for a moment he wasn't entitled to it of course. Him and others in the crew carried out possibly the most disturbing and unwanted, but necessary of tasks on that tragic day.
However, given that all the crew of the vessel were as involved in the operation, (as were other vessels) would it be worthwhile to award the decoration to the Vessel?
It is common practice in other Navies, for a warship to wear its battle honours painted on its bridge wing.
I have a photo of USCGC Gallatin with a similar decoration, in addition to the usual ribbons representing her operational deployments, she also carried a motif representing her success at drug interdiction, to the tune of a snowflake for each cocaine seizure, and a cannabis leaf for each seisure of that drug.
In effect it gives the future crews of these vessels something to be proud of, even if some of them weren't even born when the event in question took place.
So as I see it:
Aisling, and one of the peacocks has a DSM
Aisling and Emer have a AK47/Armalite motif
Roisin and Niamh have a snowflake
Niamh should have some ribbon representing her far east deployment, and Eithne should have similar for south America.
Emer, Aoife and Aisling should have a Lebanon UN medal for the resupply cruises
Niamh should have similar for Eritrea.
Not to mention the long service medals the entire fleet is entitled to...
Etc.
Any thoughts?
It is generally assumed that as Officer in charge of the rescue attempts, his decoration was for the crew of the vessel, rather than just for any single action he himself carried out on that difficult day. Not saying for a moment he wasn't entitled to it of course. Him and others in the crew carried out possibly the most disturbing and unwanted, but necessary of tasks on that tragic day.
However, given that all the crew of the vessel were as involved in the operation, (as were other vessels) would it be worthwhile to award the decoration to the Vessel?
It is common practice in other Navies, for a warship to wear its battle honours painted on its bridge wing.
I have a photo of USCGC Gallatin with a similar decoration, in addition to the usual ribbons representing her operational deployments, she also carried a motif representing her success at drug interdiction, to the tune of a snowflake for each cocaine seizure, and a cannabis leaf for each seisure of that drug.
In effect it gives the future crews of these vessels something to be proud of, even if some of them weren't even born when the event in question took place.
So as I see it:
Aisling, and one of the peacocks has a DSM
Aisling and Emer have a AK47/Armalite motif
Roisin and Niamh have a snowflake
Niamh should have some ribbon representing her far east deployment, and Eithne should have similar for south America.
Emer, Aoife and Aisling should have a Lebanon UN medal for the resupply cruises
Niamh should have similar for Eritrea.
Not to mention the long service medals the entire fleet is entitled to...

Etc.
Any thoughts?
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