Posted on 12/17/2015 3:09:36 AM PST by Kartographer
Navy officials say they are going to award the Purple Heart to four Marines and a sailor who were killed, and a Marine who was injured when a gunman attacked a Chattanooga reserve center this past summer.
US Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced the decision Wednesday in a news release that also noted that the FBI and Naval Criminal Investigation Service determined the attack was inspired by a foreign terrorist group. That determination was necessary to bestow the award.
The Purple Hearts will go posthumously to Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, Staff Sgt David Wyatt, Sgt Carson Holmquist, Gunnery Sgt Thomas Sullivan and Lance Cpl Squire 'Skip' Well
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It's called Islam. I trust all Americans killed or wounded by its adherents will get nice medals, too ?
I always thought the purple heart for a wound in battle, not a death
I guess they’re admitting that we are at war on our own soil.
hmmm ... good point
I was the NCOIC for an ops team in Nam. Three of my seven men were wounded and died of those wounds received in combat. They recevied the Purple Heart postumously. Those of us who were wounded and survived also were decorated.
It is obvious that the Navy regards the action as combat.
Eligibility criteria for the Purple Heart Medal is as follows:
a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded
(1) In any action against an enemy of the United States.
(2) In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged.
(3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
(4) As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces.
(5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force.
(6) After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed Services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack.
(7) After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.
b. While clearly an individual decoration, the Purple Heart differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not “recommended” for the decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria.
(1) A Purple Heart is authorized for the first wound suffered under conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an Oak Leaf Cluster will be awarded to be worn on the medal or ribbon. Not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instant or from the same missile, force, explosion, or agent.
(2) A wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required, however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.
(3) When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award.
(4) Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:
(a) Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action.
(b) Injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap.
(c) Injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological or nuclear agent.
(d) Injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire.
(e) Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.
(5) Examples of injuries or wounds which clearly do not qualify for award of the Purple Heart are as follows:
(a) Frostbite or trench foot injuries.
(b) Heat stroke.
(c) Food poisoning not caused by enemy agents.
(d) Chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy.
(e) Battle fatigue.
(f) Disease not directly caused by enemy agents.
(g) Accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action.
(h) Self-inflicted wounds, except when in the heat of battle, and not involving gross negligence.
(i) Post traumatic stress disorders.
(j) Jump injuries not caused by enemy action.
(6) It is not intended that such a strict interpretation of the requirement for the wound or injury to be caused by direct result of hostile action be taken that it would preclude the award being made to deserving personnel. Commanders must also take into consideration, the circumstances surrounding an injury, even if it appears to meet the criteria. Note the following examples:
(a) In case such as an individual injured while making a parachute landing from an aircraft that had been brought down enemy fire; or, an individual injured as a result of a vehicle accident caused by enemy fire, the decision will be made in favor of the individual and the award will be made.
(b) Individuals wounded or killed as a result of “friendly fire” in the “heat of battle” will be awarded the Purple Heart as long as the “friendly” projectile or agent was released with the full intent of inflicting damage or destroying enemy troops or equipment.
(c) Individuals injured as a result of their own negligence; for example, driving or walking through an unauthorized area known to have been mined or placed off limits or searching for or picking up unexploded munitions as war souvenirs, will not be awarded the Purple Heart as they clearly were not injured as a result of enemy action, but rather by their own negligence.
c. A Purple Heart will be issued to the next of kin of each person entitled to a posthumous award. Issue will be made automatically by the Commanding General, PERSCOM, upon receiving a report of death indicating entitlement.
d. Upon written application to Commander, ARPERCEN, ATIN.- DAR-P-VSEA, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132-5200, award may be made to any member of the Army, who during World War 1, was awarded a Meritorious Service Citation Certificate signed by the Commander in Chief, American Expeditionary Forces, or who was authorized to wear wound chevrons. Posthumous awards to personnel who were killed or died of wounds after 5 April 1917 will be made to the appropriate next of kin upon application to the Commanding General, PERSCOM.
e. Any member of the Army who was awarded the Purple Heart for meritorious achievement or service, as opposed to wounds received in action, between 7 December 1941 and 22 September 1943, may apply for award of an appropriate decoration instead of the Purple Heart.
f. For those who became Prisoners of War after 25 April 1962, the Purple Heart will be awarded to individuals wounded while prisoners of foreign forces, upon submission by the individual to the Department of the U.S. Army of an affidavit that is supported by a statement from a witness, if this is possible. Documentation and inquiries Should be directed to Commander, PERSCOM, ATTN: TAPCPDA, Alexandria, VA 22332-0471.
g. Any member of the U.S. Army who believes that he or she is eligible for the Purple Heart, but through unusual circumstances no award was made, may submit an application through military channels, to Commander, PERSCOM, ATTN: TAPC-PDA, Alexandria, VA 22332-0471. Application will include complete documentation, to include evidence of medical treatment, pertaining to the wound.
(a) Frostbite
During operations Anaconda in 2002 one of the soldiers got a purple heart for frostbite. He was pinned down in a snow bank but able to being covering fire on the enemy. He stayed in that position to help protect his team and ended up with frostbite as his only injury.
Let’s see if the Obama administration steps in and overturns this decision.
The Fort Hood people are still waiting.
And I find out today the number of Syrian “refugees” into THIS country has topped 100,000 since 2012.
This is damned criminal, to open the floodgates to refugees from this country.
Do all of our supposedly elected officials forget that Syria was aiding and supplying insurgents in Iraq with weaponry that resulted in the death of hundreds of American servicemen?
Do they remember that? Because I sure as hell do, and this makes me hopping mad.
Insanity. This is pure, criminal insanity.
We are going to have a lot more deaths in this country, and it won’t be dead people eligible for Purple Heart medals, either. Those men killed in Chattanooga damn well should have benefits commensurate with men killed in battle, because that is exactly what they were, and our cowardly government and media refuse to acknowledge that fact.
This denial is going to jump right up and bite us all in the ass. We are going to see more things like Chattanooga, San Bernardino, Fort Hood, and 9/11 before we are done.
Boy, does this steam me.
I have never understood why that would not be eligible for a Purple Heart. The veterans from Bastogne and Chosin Reservoir who lost limbs lost them as a result of combat just as surely as a man who took a bullet in a limb.
And then they give John Kerry three Purple Hearts.
Maddening.
Welcome to December, Mr. Van Winkle - that was settled in February:
It also go to the severity of the injury.
An AK47 round, fired by a Viet Cong during a firefight, grazed my ankle, slicing my boot and making a 2-inch long by 1/16-inch deep cut in my ankle. Treated in the field with iodine and a bandaid, it did not qualify for a purple heart. The wound healed in about a week and it took 6 weeks to get replacement boots.
Not giving honor to Fort Hood really p*sses me off. Any real America President would have honored those killed and wounded there, hopefully our next President will do so-better late than never.
Actually I think this is a positive sign that some underlings in the government are stiffening their spines and turning on Obama.
This cannot possibly be in accordance with his dictats.
Purple Hearts, finally. Meanwhile this act of war goes unpunished.
Well... better (very) late than never.
You got iodine and a band-aid and you wanted replacement boots as well? Boy are you needy. ;-)
Thank you for your service!
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