PTSD Deserves Purple Heart

[Royal777]

I have not been politically involved with anything since Vietnam. However, recently I read an article in The Daily Beast called, "How The Purple Heart Can Help Heal Veterans With PTSD.

It motivated me to start the petition listed below.

A little about me:
1. I still carry shrapnel in my hip from Veitnam. However, since the medic who treated me didn't list how it get there - no Purple Heart.

2. I have a very rare form of cancer from agent orange and am 100% disabled - no Purple Heart.

3. I suffer from PTSD and am 100% unemployable. - no Purple Heart.

My time has come and gone but I would like to think if we can get this approved it will help others who suffer from PTSD and deserve this.

Let me know what you think.

PTSD Deserves Purple Heart link.
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/ptsd-deserves-purple.fb30?source=c.fb&r_by=8611803

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Jim

[catnhatnh]

1. I asked the most qualified vet I know....

he said not just no, but Damn No.....he respects just 2 medals-the CIB and the Purple Heart. He hates the new "Near CIB" awards and says a PTSD award would just be another move to water down an honored tradition. I'll have to stand with his opinion.

[Royal777]

5. Respect

I can respect his/your decision. I do hold a CIB W/Oak Leaf Cluster. I assume that is the CIB he meant. As I fought with MACVSOG I also earned the Presidential Unit Citation. Sorry he won't respect that one.

[DissidentVoice]

2. Until you've been there...

...you'll never know what it's like.

I was in the ANG and did not see action. I thank God for that. My Wing had a large percentage of Vietnam veterans in it - including the Wing King, a Brigadier General who had flown F-100's in Vietnam.

However, I have PTSD from a childhood of being used as a punching bag/kickball by an alcoholic family. My non-military acquired PTSD eventually led to a PTSD-related (but not service-connected; I wouldn't have tried to lie and claim that) medical discharge from the military.

I support the PH for combat-related PTSD and TBI.

[Royal777]

6. Thank You

If you read some of the comments of the people who lost loved ones, it will make you cry. If you suffer from PTSD from any cause take out the time to check out Love Our Vets on the net.

Hope you took the time to sign the petition. - Thanks Jim

[WooWooWoo]

3. give it to them

I was infantry and know two individuals close to me who got purple hearts in very different fashions. One, by any measure deserved it (he got both his legs and an arm blown off by an IED) - and the other got it for getting "shot" - even though the bullet miraculously hit the butt stock of his rifle, went through that and hit his belt buckle, where it got stuck. The bullet never entered his body - but he got a purple heart. He told me he wasn't going to turn it down since it was offered to him, but he wouldn't have asked for it on his own.

I think the purple heart is a very touchy subject among vets. It's supposed to be for physical wounds sustained in battle - and PTSD and TBI would certainly qualify as wounds - but they're invisible and thus most people don't consider them physical. But when you look at brain scans of vets with TBI and PTSD and those of the normal population - you can see a physical difference.

So I say give them the PH.

[Royal777]

7. Thank You

Thank you for your support. I hope you took the time to share it with your friends.

[WooWooWoo]

10. i'm not sure my friends would agree though

not because vets with PTSD don't deserve it - but because there's a sort-of taboo about asking for a purple heart. It's kind of frowned upon.

[Royal777]

11. They are not asking

We are doing the asking for something they deserve. When I was offered the PH when I was wounded I turned it down. In our unit the PH was called the Fuc* Up Badge, because it indicated you did something wrong in order to get wounded. We were young and dumb.

[Mnemosyne]

4. Welcome to DU, Jim. PTSD is devastating. nt

[Royal777]

8. Good to be here

Thanks for the welcome . I hope that meant you signed the petition and shared it with your friends. I know that not everybody agrees with this but, I would hate to tell loved ones left behind from a suicide caused by PTSD that recognizing his suffering would "water down" the PH.

[Mnemosyne]

9. I signed. My daughter suffers from PTSD, not from war, but no less devastating. My heart

aches for those that suffer and it needs to be recognized as a legitimate injury from war. A couple of her friends that served in Iraq and Afghanistan, basically committed suicide by way of alcohol, high speed and trees.

Hang in there, Jim!

[Royal777]

12. Sorry

So sorry for your loss. I have put my wife through hell with my PTDS. She is really the one that deserves the medal. My wife calls Vietnam the war that just keeps on giving.

Thank you for sharing.

[Mnemosyne]

13. Your wife is right, just add in Iraq and Afghanistan vets for the next twenty years. Heartbreaking

beyond words, imagining these kids in the future with no work for distractions. Homeless and Veteran should never be in the same sentence.

[Royal777]

14. sadly I Agree

[Cooley Hurd]

15. Kick and Rec.

I agree with you 100%!!!

[Royal777]

16. Did you share?

Thank you so much. I hope you look the time to sign the petition and share it with your friends. - Jim

[Cooley Hurd]

17. I sure did - I hope a change is made!!!

YOU deserve a Purple Heart!

[Royal777]

18. Thank You

[JohnnyCIB]

19. Medical Community needs to step up as well as Veterans

The Purple Heart is a medically - related award, now with that said it should be left up to the Medical professionals. If it affects someone and has caused damage to parts of the brain then how can this not be an example of a wound? Combat-Related PTS should warrant the Purple Heart, it's time to stop making the Purple Heart to be about being a tough guy or hardened soldier and more about common sense and duty and consequences of that combat duty. By the way, nobody sets out to be wounded in combat, most of the time front line soldiers will get banged up and see way more than any human being should resulting in internal wounds. One can argue that a soldier with combat related PTS is in essence a walking wound.

[gopiscrap]

20. Welcome to DU

[Royal777]

21. Thank You

very well put.

[AllyCat]

24. Agreed. Welcome to DU!

Thanks to all for this enlightening topic. I did not know the limitations in place for awarding a Purple Heart.

[Royal777]

25. Medical Professionals

Thank you so much for your constructive comments. I am writing changes to the current Purple Heart award. A commander can submit for the award. I agree that professional should make the determination on PTSD. I will include this new suggested wording.

[gijoe984]

22. Thanks Royal for setting up

Royal I'm behind you on this topic. I've been on two tours and seen and done somethings I'll never EVER forget. I've had friends die overseas and at home (suicide). I know other vets out there are having hard times. I think a little respect and notice from our military and government and honoring us vets and future vets with the PH can help vets with COMBAT PTSD. As far for the guys out there that believe this would "water down" the medal, lol haven't been deployed lately. Scratches, scrapes, minor cuts, bruises, and so on .. these "injuries" have been awarded the PH. Yet someone holding there friend's bloody soaked body in their arms as they die, and suffer from PTSD mentally and physically isn't worth the PH?

[AllyCat]

23. Thank you for your service. Welcome to DU.

Sorry for the loss of your friends. Peace and healing to you.

[Royal777]

26. It is hard

I was warned when I started this that this may bring back memories that I have buried. Your post did bring some of these to the for front again. At the same time this is why I started this. Thank you for your post.