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The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 132 · Wednesday, 4 November 2026

Pentagon

Pentagon confident U.S. will be ready for 2027 war with China by 2035

Officials cite historically proven American strategy of entering wars completely unprepared

Hegseth wears Eisenhower's globe as Halloween costume

Spirit Halloween store to become pop-up ICE detention center

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Vol. 15 · No. 132

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Vol. 15 · No. 132 · Deployed worldwide

Wednesday

4 November 2026

0132 Zulu

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· Page 2

Award downgraded by recommender

Filed · 1539

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Sgt. Michael Malloy's Army Commendation Medal has been downgraded to an Army Achievement Medal by his recommender, a source within 29th Infantry Division personnel reports.

“We are refuting all accusations from Sgt. Malloy,” said Maj. Sarah Thomas, 29th Special Troops Battalion S-1. “It is completely untrue that we have been trying to organize, limit, or otherwise make awards fair in this command. There’s basically a punchbowl of ARCOMs for this AT, and we’re completely baffled why Sgt. Malloy is getting anything out of that sugar stash of chest candy.”

Malloy made queries as to the status of his award at several drill weekends, and was surprised to learn it had not been downgraded by a higher level command but by his own recommender.

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