Quote:
Originally posted by honeychile
*Most Viet Nam Veterans who received a Purple Heart were laid up for more than a day. In fact, a goodly portion received them posthumously.
*Kerry was with a group of Viet Nam Vets who protested by throwing away their medals. Kerry threw only his ribbons; the rest threw away their medals. I believe that's called hypocracy.
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To earn the Purple Heart, one must be wounded or killed as a result of enemy action, though the original purpose of the medal in the Revolutionary War was for military merit (the reverse of the medal has 'FOR MILITARY MERIT' inscribed.) In fact, some early Purple Heart medals awarded in 1932 (the year the modern medal was introduced) were awarded for meritorious service.
Most medal presentation boxes are composed of the following:
the full-size medal (miniature medals for formal (mess dress) uniforms are sold separately)
the medal ribbon
and a miniature lapel pin of the medal ribbon
Back in the day, one could not purchase full-size medals; you had to request replacement medals from the respective military service. It's much easier to purchase full-size medals today (except - obviously - for the Medal of Honor). It was Kerry's choice to either toss his medals or his ribbons; to me they would have reflected the same impact.