A new medal for unmanned drone operators comes under the microscope.
There has been a lot of backlash over the fact that the new medal outranks some of the most noted awards for bravery.
Some veterans say it's not fair and that it needs to change.
"It just don't seem right to me," says three time Purple Heart recipient Hank Haun.
Hank says he can't understand why a drone pilot should be honored above those wounded or killed in combat.
"They're not actually putting themselves in harm's way," said the Vietnam Army Veteran.
The brand new "Distinguished Warfare Medal" outranks both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, awards reserved for those who courageously put their lives on the line for others.
Hank said, "It's just not right to give somebody that is sitting maybe thousands of miles away a ribbon higher than the person who is actually facing the fights."
Retired Defense Secretary Leon Panetta created the controversial medal in February.
He said it was time to honor soldiers fighting on a new kind of front.
"The work that they do, the contribution that they make, does contribute to the success of combat operations," said Panetta.
Though new Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel initially told Congress he supported the medal, he called its criteria under review Tuesday.
Hank says, "I hope he realizes that it should have no more weight than an air medal."
The Distinguished Service Medal is so new that it hasn't been awarded to anyone yet.
Production has been stopped, and not one person has actually been nominated for it.
Reporter: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com
Photographer: Chris Buford cbuford@kcentv.com
