Military takes back 11 Purple Hearts from troops injured in Iraq

IowaStatePhiPsi · #1 02-09-2005, 03:34 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/10850936.htm

http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/4125996/detail.html

RUgreek · #2 02-09-2005, 05:54 PM

Look, if you give someone an award, don't wait a couple months and take it away. Make sure you know the facts for sure before giving these out. And if you do award a crippled soldier the purple heart, you have be one cold sob to take it away. He/she already put themselves in harm's way for this country, give them a friggin' break already.

The1calledTKE · #3 02-09-2005, 06:05 PM

He should get to keep it. He was still in a combat zone. They were invading iraq. He was a war casuality even if it was a accident, because being run over by a tank is no small thing.

RACooper · #4 02-10-2005, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
He should get to keep it. He was still in a combat zone. They were invading iraq. He was a war casuality even if it was a accident, because being run over by a tank is no small thing.

I hate to say it but I have to side with the US military on this one:

Quote:

The PURPLE HEART is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration.

So there are no Purple Hearts given for friendly-fire, nor by accident - but it is given solely as a result of hostile action...

dekeguy · #5 11-01-2006, 11:40 AM

[QUOTE=RACooper;952965]I hate to say it but I have to side with the US military on this one:

RACooper,
One soldier to another, I have a hard time seeing you as being uncomfortable to side with the US military. I agree that there are plenty of things to grouse about, both in my Army and in your Army. However, I think you would agree that the overall system is a good one, we just have to make sure it operates as it is designed to do. Any large organization must by definition have its share of idiots, it is after all a human institution and therefore cannot be perfect. But, the brotherhood of the sword is a concept that I believe you not only know but live by. Incidental policy is one thing, wholesale rejection is another.

Second thought, yes, I agree that the Purple Heart is reserved for combat wounds although I might be willing to blur the lines just a bit if the circumstances of the injury were not strictly speaking combat inflicted wounds but wounds received as a direct result of military operations conducted against an armed enemy. Tough calls and would have to be on a case by case basis. Therefore, this would call for caution and clear knowledge of the circumstances befort the award is made.
Your thoughts?

AlexMack · #6 11-01-2006, 11:52 AM

This is BS. If you, the Department of Defense, fucked up then you make sure it doesn't happen again, you don't de-medal people. Make sure you know the facts before handing out purple hearts.
He's been through a lot of suffering already because of the US Army, don't drag him through the mud some more.