Do the wounded at Ft. Hood get a Purple Heart?

vanity question | 11/10/09 | Mamzelle

[Mamzelle]

I'm not military, but my understanding is that a Purple Heart is for those wounded in action. Do these dead and wounded qualify? If not, would it be proper to lobby for them to receive the medal.

[Empireoftheatom48]

Maybe the Jerk will admit this was a jihad attack!

[rabidralph]

No. Do not lobby anyone about it. Nobody joins the military to get medals and the people that receive them never feel they are deserving.

[rabidralph]

Not everything is worthy of getting one’s panties in a bunch and it seems to happen a lot on this site.

[papasmurf]

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. There are several other Medals that can be awarded, but those would go to any Soldier for acts of meritorious service or bravery, or distinguished service.

Many Countries have a "Sacrifice" Medal they award for similar situations, but we don't. Canada has denigrated theirs, I'm told, by awarding it to those who have committed suicide due to stress either in combat, or stressed about going to a combat zone.

I would not like to see the Purple Heart devalued by awarding it in this situation, but rather a new Medal that commemorates loss of life in the line of duty other than combat.

I'm amazed that we don't, already, have one, as we have so many others that are awarded for much, much less than being murdered by a muzzie terrorist.

[TXBlair]

Let me put this gently - no.

Actually, I think they might. I'm not military (so not sure of the policies of awarding medals), but I live right by Fort Hood and there is still non-stop coverage of the jihadi massacre on our local news channels. I heard just a day or two ago that the victims would likely receive Purple Hearts. Again, I don't know if this would be standard protocol or a special exception.

FWIW.

Good question, Mamzelle...I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it unfolds.

[Kirkwood]

Shame on you!

[Shamrock-DW]

The event would have to be officially recognized as terrorizm...

[Kirkwood]

And shame on you, too.

[papasmurf]

DFC is for skill, not loss of life or bravery. The Purple Heart will loose it’s meaning if it is awarded for non combat loss of life.

This is a new situation for us, there needs to be a new Medal.

[Kirkwood]

And double shame on you!

[Caesar Soze]

3. Criteria: a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force who, while serving with 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 department concerned, or jointly by the Secretaries of the departments concerned if persons from more than one department are wounded in the attack; or,

            (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.

            (8) After 7 December 1941, by weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict, regardless of the fire causing the wound.

            (9) While held as a prisoner of war or while being taken captive.

        b. A wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer.

[Kirkwood]

You don’t know what others think. Particularly the family members.

[Kirkwood]

It appalls me to think that FReepers are trivializing the Purple Heart. Sickening, actually.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

The Purple Heart is a high honor, given to note the profound sacrifice that the awardee made for our Country. It is awarded to those injured and killed in a conflict.

The unarmed victims at Ft. Hood deserve that recognition; and the Army/Administration needs to award the medal as a gesture affirming that Hasan was acting as a traitor and as an enemy combatant.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Given that John Kerry got one, I don’t think the people who are suggesting the Ft. Hood victims deserve it are “trivializing” it.

[cornelis]

Ah, you are sharp. Now I need a purple heart, too.

[eyedigress]

John Kerry did that on his own. Lets not let him win that battle. Your sarcasm is not lost but your lack of decency is.

[eyedigress]

Before you whack me over the head, I read that completely incorrect. I apologize for that. Good grief!

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

I definitely have a problem with Obama.

[Fred Hayek]

My opinion, yes.

In light of the current CIC, not gonna happen. Zero is going to continue to spin this as someone who snapped after being picked on. And then make political hay out of it to push other agenda - “health care”, “gun control”, etc. It’s already started. Dingy Harry is using this incident to push the “health care”.