Spann was a Marine,but wasn't Special Ops. I don't think any Marines are.
Would that make a difference in his receiving a purple heart? Or would a man need to be currently active in the military to receive one?
You have to be on active duty,and wounded as a result of enemy action. If you are wounded by one of your buddes by accident,you don't get a PH. If you are wounded by "friendly fire" you don't get a PH. Or at least you are not supposed to get one.
BTW,I'm sure the CIA has their own award for wounded and/or killed field service officers,but I have no idea what it is called.
Hmmm.. I thought SpecOps were Marines...could that be Navy instead? Marines are a branch of the Navy, right?