The rice in the tush incident doesn’t even qualify for a PH. It was “friendly fire”, actually self inflicted, that did not occur during an engagement with the enemy. A wound that is the result of friendly fire is only eligible for a PH if it is the result of misdirected fire during a hostile engagement. If two (otherwise) friendly units exchange fire, no PH should be awarded. (Stonewall Jackson would not be eligible for a PH under this rule.) An individual injured by misdirected friendly fire during a hostile engagement is elgible.
Self inflicted wounds are specifically excluded. If you shoot yourself during an engagement, you might get a trip to the hospital, but no PH. If you deliberately injure yourself, regardless of circumstances, you are eligible for a court-martial.
PS: John Kerry’s wounds were paper cuts, the kind of incidental injuries generally not even attended to by a medic or documented in a service members medical records. In one incident, the medic handed him a band-aid in the infirmary, and Kerry made him enter the “injury” in his medical records. Ground combat, even without any injuries inflicted by hostile fire, is lot like a football game. Participants receive a number of bruises and cuts from activities that have nothing to do with hostile fire. Most soldiers never even sought treatment for minor shrapnel wounds.
I’d read some of this at the time, but thanks for digging down for the complete story. I don’t know one Vietnam era Vet that doesn’t think Kerry is a self-serving asshole. Started back then and continues today. Just breaks my heart when I go to the VA hospital and see all the damage; these are the real heroes.
Kerry: Hey Doc...can you check out these rice wounds on my ass?
Pathetic. No Shame.