Purple Heart for PTSD?

[Snaquebite]

I believe that Washington and Patton would STRONGLY disagree with this idea...

What Are the Wounds of War?
Military Debates
Purple Heart Awards
For Mental Stress
By YOCHI J. DREAZEN
May 13, 2008; Page A11

WASHINGTON -- Centuries before Iraq and Afghanistan, George Washington created the Purple Heart to honor troops wounded in combat.

But with an increasing number of troops being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the modern military is debating an idea Gen. Washington never considered -- awarding one of the nation's top military citations to veterans with psychological wounds, not just physical ones.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates offered cautious support for such a change on a trip to a military base in Texas this month.

"It's an interesting idea," Mr. Gates said in response to a question. "I think it is clearly something that needs to be looked at."


More...
http://online.wsj.com/public/article...f_main_tff_top

[Pete]

I agree with what you said plus....

I think this gets back to the push for gun control, yes gun control.

For the last two or three years we have been seeing the push from the left on the mental issue.

You've now got 1/3 of vets with mental problems?

As with most liberal programs it's not the first step that trips you, it's the new look at the old law two or three years down the road.

A few years from now you'll hear stories of vets going to the local gun show, offer to by a rifle, turned down at the insta-check, and when he looks into why finds out it's because he saw a shrink after a trip to Iraq.

There are those with problems that need help but the majority needs to think hard on it.

[Snaquebite]

Pete,

Very good points, I agree with you also. Further investigation into the proponents of this would probably reveal that very underlying agenda.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Snaquebite

Probably reveal that very underlying agenda.

I don't disagree that the Left probably is trying to link PTSD and combat trauma to gun control..

But fighting with the Left doesn't do anything for the troops that really need help..

A little story:

When I was a kid in the 50t's, my dad would take me to the VFW every Saturday morning around 10 AM.. The place stunk of stale beer,, always did, didn't matter what time of the day or day of the week.

Anyway,, I spend a lot of Saturdays in the VFW bar,, met a lot of WW II & some Korean Vets,, most were real nice people,, all were drunks. So was my old man...

Nobody use PTSD back them,, he had a chip on his shoulder,, misplaced youth,, ringing in your ears,, to much trench time, or something else,, nuff said??

When I returned from Nam,, my old man and his buddies did me the honor of electing me as the VFW Post Commender,, still the same crown,, 20 years later,, still drunk..

Not one of us can stand up and say they liked being shot at..

Some of us hide it,, hide it well.. Some don't,,

It's the nature of the human mind..

I am not saying all vets are drunks,, I'm not..

I don't think a PH will help many,, but public awareness will.

I am very proud of my PH,, so much so that I'm not sure it should be used for non-bleeding combat wounds..

I don't have the answer,, but we all know there is a problem..

[The Reaper]

In my limited experience, the ones who snivel the most, want more entitlements, and rewards, etc. are the ones who did the least.

I would wager most "homeless VN vets" were never in a combat unit during the war, were never in VN, or in many cases, in the military at all during the period.

Watch how many of these new PTSD applicants never left the FOB.

Riding the gravy train, with biscuit wheels.

TR

[jbour13]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

In my limited experience, the ones who snivel the most, want more entitlements, and rewards, etc. are the ones who did the least.

I would wager most "homeless VN vets" were never in a combat unit during the war, were never in VN, or in many cases, in the military at all during the period.

Watch how many of these new PTSD applicants never left the FOB.

Riding the gravy train, with biscuit wheels.

TR

Agreed TR

I'll share a story with you via PM about a sniveling E-6 that received his PH from a "rocket attack" that would make you cringe.

I myself am a Fobbit, no questions asked. I have been outside and played Soldier for a minute. I somehow was dubbed "PTSD Sufferer" upon my return from Iraq by a doc. I was just tired and wanted to go to work. Been fine since, no issues. It's who you are, not what you are!!

I have a Soldier (prior 11B) that has to take meds and hates it. Is he jacked up, no. Does he want a PH, no. Does he qualify for one, yes. The fragmentation in his calf would say yes, he just moved on and didn't make a fuss about it.

[tom kelly]

The Following List of Soldiers I served with were AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.
Herbert Francis Hardy Panel 01E line 45 KIA 03-04-64 Age-36
George Underwood-Panel 1E Row 59 KIA 07-23-64 Age-21

William Toth -Panel 1E Row 69 KIA 10-27-64 Age-22

James Gabriel Jr. - Panel 1E Row 8 KIA 04-08-62 Age-24

Wayne Marchand -Panel 1E Row 8 KIA 04-08-62 Age-29

Dave Morgan -Panel 2E Row 93 KIA 09-23-65 Age-28

George A Hoagland III Panel 4E Row 109 KIA 01-29-66 Age-30

Donald J Fawcett -Panel 8E Row123 KIA 07-03-66 Age-25

Richard E Pegram -Panel 47W Row 51 KIA 08-23-68 Age-40

Bryan E Grogan -Panel 2E Row 27 KIA 07-05-65 Age-29

All The Above (except Grogan ) were members of C Company 1st SFG (Abn)
2nd Lt. Grogan was a Sgt. E-5 at Special Forces Tng. Gp. in Dec.1962.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE........Regard's,tom kelly

[AngelsSix]

TR beat me to it. I noticed that the folks who brag the most are the ones who have done the least. I take particular notice to all the folks that like to put the medals they have on their license plates....seems a little weird to me, I am proud of my accomplishements just like the next person, but you won't catch me putting it on a license plate or a sticker on my car.
But hey, each to his own, right??

[FMF DOC]

Well, I agree that PTSD is probably at a all time high among our returning fighting forces and that they deserve all the help (treatment) the government can give them. I have trouble agreeing they should recieve the Purple Heart ie; The Red Badge of Courage for not showing any red. Maybe the solution is to create a whole new type of recognition. As far as the sniveling going on. You will always have those sniveling for some recognition they do not rate just as you do for the Combat Action recognition, low life personnel who never left the FOB, ship, airfield, ect... think they rate it and most get it.... When the instruction reads that you must recieve and return fire under hostile conditions to rate it. At least in the USMC and USN ground forces that is how it is suppose to work. And we must face the facts that this generation of men are not as tough as our forefathers.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally Posted by FMF DOC

And we must face the facts that this generation of men are not as tough as our forefathers.

Let's not paint an entire generation with the same brush. There are exceptional folks out there that have picked up the torch for those of us that no longer can. While I think that the majority of the PTSD is a crock for those who would have otherwise found ways to skate we have a group of folks who came from the what's in it for me tribe that joined the military for reasons other than fullfilling a commitment to the profession of arms. These folks have found a way to milk a system through manipulation of technology and information gathering not available to those that came before them.

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally Posted by Jack Moroney

Let's not paint an entire generation with the same brush. There are exceptional folks out there that have picked up the torch for those of us that no longer can. While I think that the majority of the PTSD is a crock for those who would have otherwise found ways to skate we have a group of folks who came from the what's in it for me tribe that joined the military for reasons other than fullfilling a commitment to the profession of arms. These folks have found a way to milk a system through manipulation of technology and information gathering not available to those that came before them.

My best buddy wrote the PTSD definition for DSMlll...I guarantee this is not what she had in mind!

PTSD can be real, and it can screw you up, but a lot of individuals are riding this crutch.

[FMF DOC]

Jack,

I agree with your statements, I guess what I'm saying is that with todays technology and bureaucracy it is much easyer for the ones just looking for whats in it for them to make claims and get bennifits that they truely do not deserve. Our forefathers did the job and did it well and those who came home did so without complaint.

[Mike]

Worst thing about the PTSD issue is when theyattatched a diagnosis and a paycheck to it in the 90s.

Guys were being counselled on how to handle what problems they had at the time.

This suddenly changed to letting one's problems handle one'self and it has been downhill ever since.

"Get well" and lose that check?....No Way.

The new generation almosts expects automatic PTSD compensation as a benefit.

I read a lot of vet boards and there's some shameful shit going on.

It was bad enough to see some weak fucks lay there and bleed when they could man up and move out, but when the started getting paid for it, it became a disaster.

There are legitimate cases and we know who they are.

Few if any of the weaklings will be found in our house.

I expected to be affected by combat. I had a life threatening wound and returned to operations.
I don't do crack and I have a home and managed to retire from civil service.

Oh yeah, fuck a PH for PTSD.

[jwt5]

Some more "feel good" medals from those who brought us the CAB....

[incommin]

The PH has always been for wounds received on the battlefield even though a few received it for cuts and scratches. How many have heard the story that so and so got one for dropping a mortar round on his foot while firing H&I or illumination rounds....... I hope they don't start giving it out for other issues and cheapen it more.

Jim