Posted on 10/09/2001 2:00:08 PM PDT by Pistol
Bethlehem (PA)
A Vietnam Veteran said he plans to smash his Purple Heart with a sledgehammer to protest the Defense Department's decision to award the medal to all U.S. military personnel killed or wounded in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"I had great pride in my Purple Heart. It was the only symbol of honor, pride and recognition my country had for my concious effort in the war," Angel Rosario said. "Now it has been watered down to the status of a Boy Scout's merit badge."
Rosario said that on Thursday he will dust off the Purple Heart he received after four bullets hit him during a 1969 ambush near Quang Tri, Vietnam. He plans to carry his medal to the city's Colonial Industrial Quarter- a site he chose because of its historical significance- and smash it with a sledgehammer.
"I do not belittle the events that took place," said Rosario, 51. "It was horrific, and the men and women who perished should be honored. But leave the Purple Heart to the soldiers who conciously fight and die for America," he said.
"Should we give Purple Hearts to every soldier who dies in an automobile accident?"
Rosario said he also opposed the awarding of the Purple Heart to three soldiers in the Persian Gulf War nine years ago.
"They got lost in the desert," he said. "How does that feel to a quadriplegic from Vietnam?"
Wars did not end with his little escapade in Viet Nam. Many have fought and died
since then in places and circumstances most people will never hear about.He did his service
in Viet Nam when he earned the medal. That was then...this is now. Let him honorably continue his service to his country by keeping his mouth shut and supporting his country and its soldiers.I will qualify this be saying that I am not a veteran, but this man's attitude is just plain wrong, and his timing is downright offensive. By his logic, only members of combat units would be eligible for the Purple Heart. That leaves out all support units, including chaplains and medical/rescue personnel.
Mr. Rosario should be thankful that on the occasion of his wounding, at least he was armed and could fight back. The people at the Pentagon were not. But they are still dead or wounded in the service of their country, while serving at a military installation. These facts are so obvious, I fail to see how Mr. Rosario would not have noticed.
The Canadian and British Military do not even award medals to wounded soldiers.
My father was wounded in action serving in Korea with the Van Doos. He got dick-squat for being wounded, and he had buddies who were killed, and they got dick squat.
Stop your whinning.
These dipsticks, all 19D Cav Scouts, got separated from the rest of their platoon, were surrounded by villagers (Macedonian, if memory serves me correctly...they weren't even in Kosovo at the time), captured, then carted off to Milosevic without firing a shot. They were all armed with M16s and 9mm sidearms, as well has having a 50-cal HMG atop their Humvee, and of course, the scout's main weapon, a radio. I'm an 11-year Cav Scout veteran, and am embarrassed that these clowns carry the same MOS I did.
Then, as if to add insult to injury, Jesse Jackass went over there and got them released!
I feel for this guy, but his ire needs to be turned against the fact that these three dumba--es got the PH. I believe those who died in the Pentagon are as deserving as any of the PH...after all, they were wounded in enemy action. Nothing says it can't be on our soil.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
These dipsticks, all 19D Cav Scouts, got separated from the rest of their platoon, were surrounded by villagers (Macedonian, if memory serves me correctly...they weren't even in Kosovo at the time), captured, then carted off to Milosevic without firing a shot. They were all armed with M16s and 9mm sidearms, as well has having a 50-cal HMG atop their Humvee, and of course, the scout's main weapon, a radio. I'm an 11-year Cav Scout veteran, and am embarrassed that these clowns carry the same MOS I did.
Then, as if to add insult to injury, Jesse Jackass went over there and got them released!
I feel for this guy, but his ire needs to be turned against the fact that these three dumba--es got the PH. I believe those who died in the Pentagon are as deserving as any of the PH...after all, they were wounded in enemy action. Nothing says it can't be on our soil.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Gee. The Purple Heart has a history dating back to George Washington. It's been awarded for wounds in battle since (I think) the Civil War.
IOW, it's not just some new thing.
Sorry your dad and friends got "dick squat," but it sounds like you're the one what's whining.
I heard it was even worse than that. My source tells me that they had taken their Hummer off-roading just to see what it could do, and ended up crossing the border without even knowing it.
Forget about the medals -- those guys should have spent 25 years in Leavenworth.
In fact he was awarded a 'Mentioned in Dispatches' for valour. It's a simple oak leaf attached his Korean war medal ribbon. There were about 260 Canadians out of 15,000 who served in Korea awarded the MID. And if you ever see a Brit or a Canadian with an actual medal for Valour, like the Milatary Medal. It's because they DID SOMETHING REAL SPECIAL.
The point is, once you start handing out medals for every occasion, it doesn't mean that much. But if it makes you feel good. Go for it.
Most guys I know who received a Purple Heart (you don't really 'earn' it) have other medals and awards as well.
If the ONLY symbol he has of his service is a Purple Heart, I'm thinking that his greatest acheivement in the military was getting shot in the ass or something. No wonder he's upset.
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