[oh8eleven]

Cleland’s horrible injuries did not happen in combat
Not entirely true. They did happen in a combat area, but were not the result of an enemy action. The grenade that did all the damage belonged to another GI and Cleland's wounds were considered the result of an accident.

[Lokibob]

Not so.
Cleland lost his limbs due to his own grenade. And it wasn't the first time a grenade had fallen off his flak jacket (his own words).
That isn't to take anything away from Cleland. His silver star shows him to be a real hero.
As a VietNam vet, I am apalled at the way Kerry has cheapened the purple heart for the real heros like Cleland.
I had a trooper try to get a purple heart for a stubbed toe during a ground attack. I informed him that he would be on the next patrol if he even thought about getting a purple heart. Told him that there were real people with real injuries getting the purple heart. He changed his mind about even going to the medics.