Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s Bronze Star: Clarifying Misunderstandings
Recently, a narrative suggesting that Maryland Governor Wes Moore falsely claimed to have received a Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan has circulated among far-right commentators and media outlets.
The controversy revolves around assertions that Moore misrepresented himself on a 2006 application for a White House fellowship and has not addressed subsequent media reports repeating this claim.
Contrary to these allegations, Moore’s claim was accurate. At the time of his application, his commanding officer, Lt. Gen. Michael Fenzel, had informed him of his approval for the honor. The actual awarding of the Bronze Star did not occur until December 2024 due to a delay in paperwork, which is a common occurrence in military processes.
General Stanley McChrystal remarked to the New York Times, “I don’t know how many times since I’ve retired that I’ve [had] people come to me trying to get an award that they told me that they had been recommended for that they never got.”
The Bronze Star is a military decoration awarded for acts of heroism in combat zones. Moore, who joined the Army in 2004 after completing his master’s degree at Oxford, served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division from 2005 to 2006.
Lt. Gen. Fenzel, who recommended Moore for the Bronze Star, was unaware of the delay until the issue was highlighted. He took steps to rectify the paperwork situation.
During the award ceremony, Fenzel praised Moore, stating, “Moore was tireless in his efforts to engage villages and tribal leaders to receive the most relevant and important messages associated with reconstruction, development, and stabilization. Through innumerable trips outside the wire and into Afghan communities, Wes Moore consistently demonstrated courage and skill in [a] wartime environment.”
An evaluation report from Moore’s military service commended him as “a top 1% officer” and “the best lieutenant I’ve encountered during Operation Enduring Freedom.”
In a conversation with the New York Times, Moore explained that he did not pursue the status of the award, considering it inappropriate. “You don’t do that,” he noted. “I’m not going in and asking, ‘Well, what about this award or that award?’ I’m grateful that I’m home.”
Besides the Bronze Star, Moore’s military accolades include the Combat Action Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Parachutist Badge.
The post FACT CHECK: Yes, Wes Moore did receive a Bronze Star for heroism appeared first on American Journal News.
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