Going down this road could open an interesting can of worms. I returned from my second trip to Iraq last week. There are guys in my unit with Purple Hearts for which most of us are hard-pressed to recall what "wounds" they were given out for. Some are extremely questionable - one guy had temporary hearing loss from an IED that detonated near him; one guy got a tiny cut (I guess "laceration" sounds more impressive) when a VBIED detonated against our patrol base; one guy had a ricochet hit his elbow pad (not his elbow) - I suppose it caused a bruise - and there are lots of others. A few guys are getting Purple Hearts because they were in vehicles that were struck by IEDs and they were "shaken up" and sent to the Foward Aid Station as a precaution, to make sure nothing was wrong. There are some high-ranking officers with Purple Hearts that many of us find ourselves scratching our heads over.
When we start belittling the Purple Hearts for Murtha and questioning whether he deserves them, there are going to be hundreds, if not thousands, of current OIF and OEF veterans who will be quick to notice that Murtha is equally deserving as they are. I'm curious what the reaction will be.
First, I want to thank you for your service.
Next, when and if any of the present PH recipients decide to run for public office and put their war records and PH's out there as campaign material then I and others will want to see their war records...so everyone be advised and be prepared!
We've had enough of Kerry "Band-Aid PH's" and "wannabe" heroes to last us all a lifetime.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Thank you for serving our country! You have my respect and gratitude!