Is there less courage on the battlefield today than during previous wars? If you only looked at the number of awards for valor presented to service members, you might get that impression. There’s been a noticeable decrease in valor citations issued during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, compared with previous conflicts. There are plenty of reasons for this, but a lack of bravery isn’t one of them.
On Nov. 10, 2004, during the Second Battle of Fallujah, Army Staff Sgt. David Bellavia’s platoon was ordered to clear a block where insurgents were firing on American forces.
