Originally posted on 14 Dec 2011 :

Military awards gallantry medals to soldiers of conspicuous valor. This morning, I read in the papers that Maj KS Kalsi of their medical corps has been decorated with the “Bronze Star Medal” for saving lives. The US system of awards is different from ours, and therefore a direct comparison is not possible. However, I gather that this medal is higher than the much coveted “Purple Heart”. A copy of the news as received by me reads as follows :

December 7, 2011 (New York, New York) – The U.S. Army’s first turbaned Sikh soldier in over 30 years returned home from Afghanistan and received a Bronze Star Medal for his service.

Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi received the Bronze Star Medal for “exceptionally meritorious service as an emergency medicine physician” while deployed in Afghanistan during the first half of the year. The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest combat award in the U.S. Armed Forces.

In support of the award, an official recommendation from Major Kalsi’s superiors cites his resuscitation back to life of two patients who were clinically dead on arrival; his “expert” emergency care of over 750 soldiers and civilians; coordination of 5 mass casualty exercises; and his general “commitment and leadership above and beyond that of his general duties.”

To his credit, Major Kalsi even set up camp-wide Internet access for over 200 soldiers at Camp Dwyer in Helmand, Afghanistan, where he was deployed. After his service, he was promoted from Captain to Major.

In our tradition, serving the wounded soldiers has always been considered noble. Bhai Ghanayya ji (1648-1718) was blessed for giving water to even the enemy soldiers!

Maj Kalsi has indeed won many hearts. I have received some clips of his interviews on television. I give below an excerpt from what he had to say to some children, who were inquisitive to know the details of how the doctors perform their duties in combat :