Posted on 05/29/2008 12:57:57 PM PDT by KatyLoraleyVidales
I ran across an article in the Army Times regarding the issuing of giving Purple Hearts to individuals suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sustained during combat. This appears to be the origin of much debate…
It seems to be that many members of the military want to continue distributing the award based on "singularly meritorious act of fidelity service" and that "a wound which necessitates treatment by a medical officer and which is received in action with an enemy, may, in the judgment of the commander authorized to make the award, be construed as resulting from a singularly meritorious act of essential service”.
Although I do think that PTSD is a side effect of battle, and deserves as much attention as other combat related injuries, I do not believe that a Purple Heart should be award solely on that basis. Personally, a few members of my family have been diagnosed with PTSD & they agree that what they endured during battle, does not warrant a Purple Heart.
It is my opinion that another medal, if the case need be, should be created to honor those individuals, but simply sticking them under the umbrella of the Purple Heart recipients, does not work to fit what George Washington meant when he created it.
John Stavast survived nine different North Vietnamese POW camps over his six years in captivity…
G.R. Williams was at Pearl Harbour, aboard the battleship West Virginia during the day that will forever live in infamy …
Roy Benavidez a Purple Heart & Medal of Honor recipient, came out of the Vietnam War as the most decorated veteran who served during that time.
Let us know what you think…at RightUpFront.Org...should the requirements for the Purple Heart be changed to include servicemen and women suffering from PTSD?
(Excerpt) Read more at rightupfront.org ...
Pls check out the link, I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, I’m saying you don’t have to exist with it.
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