In today's opinions, Matthew DeBord writes disparagingly about Gen. David H. Petraeus' "ribbon creep. This is what happens when a newspaper lends its pages to an idiot.

Obviously, Mr. DeBord has no clue about military dress nor protocol. Nor is he interested in same. It's merely an opportunity to dis anyone associated with our military.

Mr. DeBord is a perfect example of what's wrong with many in America today. A sad, unpatriotic, and clueless individual.

Matthew DeBord's article on General Petraeus's appearance before the Senate was the most pathetic piece of drivel that I've ever read in the LA Times. Where did you dig up this clown...at a wine-tasting? His comments surely illuminate his shortcomings as a writer, researcher or an American citizen. In combat, I would rather have a Petraeus in front of me than a dozen DeBords behind me.

It is a shame that Mr. DeBord’s parents didn’t practice abstinence before infecting the gene pool with such an ignorant and presumptuous asshole as Matthew DeBord.

I denounce Matthew DeBord for his inane and clueless remarks. General Petraeus has proven by his accomplishments in Iraq that he is an effective military commander and leader. As the presiding officer in his area of responsibility, he is commanded by law to report not to a specific political party but to the Congress (the governing legislative body of the United States ). He is charged to provide that body with honest and factual accounts about his area of operation. The general’s agenda is the welfare of our country not to support the political agenda of the administration.

He appears before Congress befitting his position; wearing the proper uniform of his office and sporting the evidence of his accomplishments on his chest in the form of medals and ribbons.

Mr. DeBord appears to have no knowledge about medals and ribbons. Military medals and campaign ribbons are a recognition and acknowledgement of a person’s performance, devotion to duty, commendation, valor and theater of operation served. They are worn in accordance with quite specific command orders relating to the uniform of the day.

Mr. DeBord’s inference that General Petraeus wears ribbons of little or no importance displays a total ignorance by Mr. DeBord. No medal or campaign ribbon is given frivolously or without merit. To the contrary, all are earned by perseverance, sacrifice, dedication, participation and courage.

Identification name plates are worn as prescribed by standing orders.

The part of the article that was most offensive to me is, “That's a lot of martial bling, especially for an officer who hadn't seen combat until five years ago.”

This hippie writer probably spilled his Starbuck’s Caramel Macchiato gagging at his whit while penning this spurious sentence. Spending one single second in a combat zone, General Petraeus most certainly gave more of himself to our country than did Mr. DeBord in doing good deeds for his fellow countrymen and women throughout his entire lifetime.

I am proud of the medals and ribbons I earned while serving in the Navy as part of the occupation forces in Japan and those earned during the Korean War. Today, when I observe a serving member of the armed forces and look at the display of medals and ribbons worn, I am appreciative and grateful to the wearer.

Looking at those of General Petraeus I find myself in complete awe. These are what the General wears:

U.S. military decorations

Bronze Star (with “V” Device) The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces fourth-highest combat award. It is earned by bravery. It is possible that Mr. DeBord is able to sip his Starbuck’s in leisure and peace as a consequence of General Petraeus act of bravery.

Other U>S> military decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
U.S. Armed Forces and the 9th highest military award (including both combat and non -combat awards) in the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations.
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
U.S. unit awards
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Superior Unit Award
U.S. non-military decorations
State Department Superior Honor Award
U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Service Stars)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral "2")

U.S. badges, patches and tabs
Combat Action Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Ranger Tab
Multi-National Force - Iraq Patch worn as his Current Unit of Assignment (left arm) patch
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Patch worn as his Combat Patch (right arm below US flag)

Foreign military decorations
Gold Award of the Iraqi Order of the Date Palm ( Iraq )
Médaille Commémorative Française ( France )
Foreign badges, patches and tabs
British Parachutist Badge
French Parachutist Badge
German Parachutist Badge

Non-U.S. service medals and ribbons
United Nations Mission in Haiti
NATO Meritorious Service Medal

In closing, I would like to say that if I could transport Mr. DeBord back in time fifty years with me to the time I was twenty-six years of age, I would kick his ass up to his shoulders. I wonder what medal I would get for this?

Perhaps the author of "Ribbon Creep" flunked Basic Training and is extremely jealous of the General's many accomplishments, all earned and deserved. The General and thousands before him have enabled the author to enjoy the freedom to be unpatriotic, non-supportive of the uniformed brave, & stupid enough to print his undeserved and unrespected drivel.

DeBord. Can't you just see the tough guy, sitting behind his computer, lashing out at General David Petraeus' earned military decorations and name tag? Spare me Mattie.

Has Matthew DeBord accomplished anything in his life that someone would even want to recognize publicly. His attempt to disparage Gen. David H. Petraeus is a feeble limp-wristed liberal attempt to disrespect the military in general but only reflects DeBord's lack of intelligence, genetic damage and possibly his mother refusing to nurse the idiot!