25 years as a Cold War warrior - no medals or awards of any description. Quite happy about - seeing as t9 the alternative which would have generated them.
Got rid of my uniforms after I left, don’t attend parades, so anything I was sent would be stuck in a drawer and puzzled over and discarded by anyone sorting through my effects once I’m gone. Since millions would be handed out it would have no scarcity or other value either.
Those who know I served know, I have no need to seek additional kudos by other means. I just enjoy telling “war” stories.
If it’s a choice of a medal or Pprune, I’ll stick with the latter…