Key facts
- U.S. veterans who served in Honduras between 1981 and 1992 are seeking formal recognition for their service.
- During this period, 72 U.S. service members were killed, and 48 were awarded Purple Hearts.
- Service members in Honduras faced risks comparable to those in declared war zones but have not received consistent official acknowledgment.
- Veterans' groups and several states support granting recognition to these service members.
- Congress is called upon to address this gap in recognition policy.
A group of U.S. veterans who served in Honduras between 1981 and 1992 are advocating for formal recognition of their service, arguing that the conditions they faced involved significant risks comparable to those in officially declared war zones. Despite sacrifices, including deaths, Purple Hearts, and prisoners of war, their contributions have not been consistently acknowledged in the nation's military history.
The author, a veteran who served in Honduras in 1989, draws a parallel to veterans who served in El Salvador during the same era, noting that they too faced a lack of acknowledgment until 1996 when they were formally recognized with the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. This precedent, the author argues, demonstrates a willingness to revisit past policies and ensure service members receive appropriate recognition.
Recent media coverage has begun to highlight the issue, but veterans seek more than just awareness; they desire formal recognition to affirm that their contributions mattered and are part of American military history. They emphasize that this is a call for fairness and consistency, not special treatment, as the U.S. has historically honored service members operating in challenging environments, even outside declared war zones.
Support for addressing this issue is growing, with national veterans' organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans, along with several states, expressing their backing. The author urges Congress to examine this matter and take steps to ensure these veterans receive the recognition they have long been denied, stating that it is an opportunity for the country to 'get this right.'