> A friend of mine had PTSD when she returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom. She never saw combat, was never under fire. She was an MP guarding isolated crossroads and looking for roadside mines. Yes, it was stressful.
Interesting... why do you believe that your friend should not be entitled to a Purple Heart for her PTSD? If it is the real thing, she is quite likely to require ongoing medical treatment, possibly for the rest of her life. And while she wasn’t fired upon by the enemy, she wasn’t driving desk, either: the mines she was looking for would have been placed by the enemy, and the crossroads she was guarding were to be guarded against the enemy.
I struggle to see the distinction, but perhaps you can clarify my thinking on this.
I know that this is going to sound like flip remark — but I really don’t intend it to be. So let me throw out my thinking on this.
1. Stress is part of serving in a combat zone.
2. Most combat personnel & combat service support troops are going to experience stress to a some degree.
3. A psychologist can pretty much find PTSD in the majority of these troops at some point during or after their deployment.
OK... Here’s the question... Does this not reduce the Order of the Purple Heart into some sort of a “campaign ribbon”?
Do you see what I’m getting at? It’s not that PTSD sufferers are not injured. It’s more of a defense of the award.
I struggle to see the distinction, but perhaps you can clarify my thinking on this.
With the exception of Hanoi John Kerry -
The requirement for the Purple heart is that it be a physical wound resulting from enemy action, serious enough to require the attention of a medical officer - a doctor.
Minor wounds treated my a medic alone did not qualify.
Wounds resulting from accidents did not qualify.
Self inflicted wounds did not qualify.
Only serious wounds received from the enemy in combat qualified.
Injuries resulting from fright did not qualify - banging your head running to a bunker didn't qualify. The recipient had to be in direct combat - in the old days it was referred to as "Seeing the Elephant", the Purple Heart indicated you had been in combat.
Rebecca never saw combat. She never fired a shot or was shot at. Yes, she was under stress - but how many soldiers in a combat area aren’t under stress? PTSD is not limited to war or combat. People suffer PTSD resulting from stress - fires, accidents, crimes ... it has nothing to do with combat.
Many people like me have pride in our Purple Hearts. It show we were in combat. To include a “mental wound” would devalue it to the level of a Campaign Medal. A high percentage of people serving in a combat theater develop PTSD to an extent. Even without combat it is generally a high stress environment.
I too had trouble with PTSD, but I don’t think I should have a second award.