Purple Hearts proposed for Fort Hood victims

CNN ^ | 11/17/09 | unnamed

[Califreak]

Washington (CNN) -- Military victims of the Fort Hood massacre will be eligible to receive the Purple Heart if Congress passes a bill introduced Tuesday.

Non-military victims could receive the Secretary of Defense Medal of Freedom -- the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart. Both military and civilian personnel killed or wounded in the November 5 attack would be granted the same legal status as combatant casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The bill was introduced by Texas GOP Rep. John Carter, who represents Fort Hood in the House of Representatives.

[Hoffer Rand]

The Army can just put him up against a wall and shoot him.

That's my position. I told my daughter I'd donate the bullet. She said, "Heck, I'd let them use my gun.

[livius]

The Purple Heart with Liberal Diversity Cluster (as in cluster f—k)

LOL! With a special edition for Gen. Casey.

[devistate one four]

They are wounds recieved in combat against our enemy!

Duh....

[Mac from Cleveland]

Skip the medals—give each one that can walk a kettle of boiling ham fat and let them “visit” Major Handjob in the hospital—one at a time for 5 minutes.

As a nod to seniority—the senior soldier will be given the hot ham fat loaded in an enema bag and gets to visit first.

[John.Galt2012]

It also means that the Military should drop it’s case for 13 counts of murder. You can’t try enemy combatants for murder.

[papasmurf]

as a result of an international terrorist attack

Which this wasn't.

As I said, a new medal needs to be created and awarded to those who are injured or killed in this type of attack. The Purple Heart is inappropriate in this instance.

[John.Galt2012]

Medal of Honor for Civilian police? As soon as the military start receiving the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor given to police. Don’t mix the apples and the oranges. The police forces have their own system of awards.

[John.Galt2012]

Safety Officer Medal of Valor

[reg45]

To the jihadis, all of the non-Islamic world is a battlefield; a part of the Dar al-Harb.

Dar al-Harb (Arabic: دار الحرب "house of war"; also referred to as Dar al-Garb "house of the West" in later Ottoman sources; a person from "Dar al-Harb" is a "harbi" (Arabic:حربي)) is a term classically referring to those countries where the Muslim law is not in force, in the matter of worship and the protection of the faithful and Dhimmis.

[magellan]

as a result of an international terrorist attack

Which this wasn't.

Given that militant Islamists consider Islam to be a nation, unbounded by geography, I would argue Maj Hassan considered himself to be a citizen of Islam, acting on behalf of the nation of Islam, and attacking his enemy.

Had this happened in 1943, and the perp been an agent of Nazi Germany, would that qualify?

Second question. Had Hassan been a "jihad of one", an "Al Qaeda wannabe", but a non US citizen located in the middle east, and attacked a military formation in the middle east, would that count?

Many of those dead an injured thought they could possibly be shot or killed by a radical Muslim, who supported Al Qaeda, and viewed America as his avowed enemy. That is exactly what happened.

The idea enemies must belong to regions within lines on maps is 20th century thinking.

2001 ushered in a new millennium. In more ways than one.

[sonofagun]

It also means that the Military should drop it’s case for 13 counts of murder. You can’t try enemy combatants for murder.

Treason in time of war would be a good start.

[sonofagun]

Which this wasn't.

So, what type of attack was it?

If this was the result of a deranged officer gone berserk, then the murder charges are appropriate and no purple hearts should be awarded.

Some type of new medal for standing around and getting shot? That doesn't make sense.

My sense is that this was an enemy attack while we are conducting a war on islamic terrorists and that those killed or injured should receive the appropriate award, which is the Purple Heart.

As for the police officer, we have civilian awards that are appropriate for her also and I suspect she will be commended appropriately.

[ohioWfan]

This is good. VERY good.

[papasmurf]

"I would argue Maj Hassan considered himself to be a citizen of Islam, acting on behalf of the nation of Islam,..."

The wording and the intent of "an international terrorist attack" is clear..."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.
...and this just doesn't measure up.

Let's not make the Purple Heart a victim of politics, which is what the Congressman wants to do. I understand his motives, to box 0bama in. I have no problem with that, but not at the expense of a Medal that has been historically awarded to those who really did suffer wounds in defense of our Nation. Those victims at Ft. Hood were sacrificed because they were Americans, not because they were in direct or indirect combat.

The dual cause being fought for here, recognition of sacrifice and damaging the illegal usurper, are noble and important (and necessary), but using the Purple Heart as a tool is just wrong.

Do you really want to degrade the importance and meaning of the Purple Heart?

As I said, we need a new Medal for these types of attacks. A Medal that, at the mere mention of it's name, is immediately associated with injury due to anti-American terrorism, and not confused with combat.

[papasmurf]

Please see my post #74

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2388436/posts?page=74#74

[Califreak]

>As I said, we need a new Medal for these types of attacks. A Medal that, at the mere mention of it’s name, is immediately associated with injury due to anti-American terrorism, and not confused with combat.>

That would box him in too, wouldn’t it?

They all need to be boxed in.

[papasmurf]

“That would box him in too, wouldn’t it?”

Yes, it would. It would also recognize a new class of meritorious service, something we have needed for a long time.

The Purple Heart is one of the most recognized and respected medals awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces.

It was introduced as the “Badge of Military Merit” (Purple Hearts are still inscribed on the rear...“For Military Merit”) by General George Washington in 1782, it’s also the nation’s oldest military award.

I want no part of, nor will I sit quiet for, efforts to sully this honored tradition.

We should not be playing politics with the Purple Heart, nor degrading the men and women who have rightful entitlement to one.

[myknowledge]

[browardchad]

We should not be playing politics with the Purple Heart, nor degrading the men and women who have rightful entitlement to one.

Like John Kerry?

[sonofagun]

From: http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/PH1.html

"Executive Order 12464, dated 23 February 1984, authorized award of the Purple Heart as a result of terrorist attacks or while serving as part of a peacekeeping force subsequent to 28 March 1973."

This looks pretty clearcut to me.

These kids died as a direct result of their service to this nation during a war by a direct attack from the enemy.

All that is needed is for this administration to declare that this was a terrorist attack.

That won't happen.

Neither will the bill ever reach the CIC's desk.