Cleland believed it was he grenade for 32 years. He was told otherwise in 2000. Either way, it would have been considered an accident, and not "friendly fire" in the "heat of battle".
In case you haven't figured it out, combat is still going on in Iraq. The 507th, although not a front-line unit, did end up on the front line accidentally and engaged in combat.
The 507th did not "end up on the front line accidentally". They were ambushed in the COMMZ that was largely insecure. The "front line", which is anachronistic today, does not suddenly move to include combat that occurs in the COMMZ.
Cleland was not engaged in combat when he accidentally fragged himself.
Cleland did not "frag" himself if Lloyd is to be believed. Also, "fragging" has a connotation that does not apply here. If you intend to use loaded terms like "fragging" reread about the 101st at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait. As far as I know, no one killed or injured in that attack was eligible for, and no one has received, the Purple Heart.
I'm thinking logic is escaping you....Leave the illogic to the libs.
One of the things I dispise about libs is thier emotional argumentation, distortion, and ad hominen rhetoric. Cleland flying out with his team to establish a radio relay tower during Operation Pegasus (and in case you haven't figured it out, combat was still going on in Vietnam and specifically at Khe Sanh when he did) was as much a routine noncombat mission as the 507th's or the 101st's. Cleland's was interrupted when, apparently, a soldier negligently rigged his grenade, Cleland saw it and tried to retrieve it. The 507th got lost, negligently retraced their route, and were ambushed. The 101st was fragged in Kuwait.
Now if you can explain the logic involved in why some of the individuals involved in these three incidents are heros and some are not. Please do.
Let's stick with your original three incidents: (1) Cleland accidentally fragging himself (or, as you allege, another American accidentally fragging him)--doesn't make a difference. (By the way, "to frag" = to use a grenade; if you chose to assign another meaning to the verb do so understanding that this is the meaning I'm using.) (2) The 507th in Iraq. (3) Those in Iraq killed or wounded by IEDs.
Whether Cleland fragged himself or was fragged by a buddy, it didn't occur in combat--it was an accident. Thus, no Purple Heart. The 507th was ambushed by the enemy on the front line (i.e., where the lead was flying at the time); those killed or wounded in this combat action were awarded the Purple Heart. Those killed or wounded by enemy IEDs are also combat casualties, and they, thus, receive Purple Hearts. What is it you don't understand about combat and non-combat accidents? While I and I'm sure others appreciate those who accidentally sacrifice in service to our country, those who sacrifice in combat with the enemy have long been held up as having done so with valor. Cleland, in the matter of his fragging, was being falsely held up by his fellow 'Rats as one of the latter. He, through his silence, was tacitly endorsing this subterfuge. And, this ploy was being used to discredit a president who apparently served with honor and who continues serving by commanding with honor. Ann's two pieces on this subject have been great, and she's done a service to her countrymen by revealing the truth. I doubt the 'Rats will shut up about this, and I'm eagerly awaiting her third installment.