By Some how I just do not see this happening:
The veterans group for combat wounded troops whose mission is to preserve the integrity of the Purple Heart has come out against giving the award to troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
"I don’t think people should get the Purple Heart for almost getting wounded," said Joe Palagyi, of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
PTSD does not merit the Purple Heart, according to an Army regulation that lays out the criteria for the award.
Recently, a military psychologist at Fort Bliss, Texas, told reporters during a roundtable that making troops with PTSD eligible for the Purple Heart could help destigmatize the disorder. [Stars & Stripes]
I foresee lots of problems with this issue to include how do you measure PTSD to determine who gets a purple heart? If anyone with PTSD gets a purple heart then just about anyone deploying to war zone should be given a purple heart. I think this veteran’s group sums this sentiment up pretty well:
Injuries that merit the Purple Heart must happen in a combat theater and must be a direct result of enemy action, said Jack Leonard, also of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
The group’s concern about PTSD is that it can be caused by other factors, not necessarily the enemy.
"Did it occur in boot camp? Did it occur because of the rough air flight into theater? Or did it occur because an individual saw the results of the Taliban massacre of a village? I can’t answer that," said Leonard, who was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in Vietnam.
Another issue I foresee is that if PTSD is eligible for a purple heart then does that mean someone who ran for shelter and sprained their ankle should they be given a purple heart as well? PTSD is a real problem but giving everybody with it a purple heart is not the way to solve it.
11:12 pm on May 16th, 2008 1
I agree with GIKorea who said "PTSD is a real problem but giving everybody with it a purple heart is not the way to solve it."
I'm one who's all for getting as much money out of Uncle Sugar as you can being a disabled veteran but this is just another scheme to PC up the situation. The Purple Heart was established for physical wounds suffered as a result of direct combat. PTSD, while tragic and a cause of much suffering, does not meet this criteria. It would diminish the sacrifice of all who ever been awarded this honor to have it extend to this particular affliction. If the DOD wants to create a separate medal for this and other combat-related ailments, then that would be fine. Don't diminish the thousands that have rightly received the Purple Heart in this way.
11:22 pm on May 16th, 2008 2
There is already a badge soldiers can where who have PTSD, it is called the combat action badge. If you have PTSD because a mortar landed next to you, you get a CAB. If you get PTSD from a fire fight you get a CAB as well. Just about any situation I can think of a soldier with a PTSD should be eligible for the CAB.