Decorations watch

Fresh on the heels of the conviction of a Canadian officer for wearing decorations she had not been awarded comes this decision of a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upholding the conviction of Elven Joe Swisher, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, for wearing decorations he hadn't earned, at a Marine Corps League event. Click here for Stars and Stripes' story. Ironically, Congress (as the Ninth Circuit mentions in a footnote) has repealed the provision that formerly punished the wearing of unearned decorations -- but too late to help this defendant. The repeal would presumably bear on whether the government will seek rehearing en banc or review by the Supreme Court.

Speaking of medals, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit will hear a case seeking to compel the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to consider a request by the widow of a World War II officer that it award her late husband the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to this Associated Press story.