Nine wounded Nevada National Guard soldiers denied Purple Hearts

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2824065&nav=8faOVJvz

The Nevada National Guard is investigating why nine Henderson-based soldiers wounded in Iraq haven't gotten Purple Heart medals they were promised.

The soldiers are members of the 72nd Military Police Company based in Henderson. Their commander turned in requests for them to get the medals after seven were hurt when their truck was destroyed by a roadside bomb outside Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in June 2003.

One soldier from the unit did get a Purple Heart when he was airlifted home after the attack. The commander also sought medals for two soldiers wounded by shrapnel and noise when their Humvee was bombed a few weeks later.

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[Cronus Protagonist]

1. They're probably just angling for medals due to presidential aspirations

Like "Kerry the coward"

/sarcasm




http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[Fridays Child]

6. Yes. It's good to plan ahead, like our John Kerry did in Vietnam.

What a visionary, eh? Too bad he didn't see the 24/7 slander coming, as well.

[not systems]

2. At least they have a future shot at being president. n/t

[IndianaGreen]

3. They were hurt in a traffic accident, don't ya know?

Their commander turned in requests for them to get the medals after seven were hurt when their truck was destroyed by a roadside bomb outside Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in June 2003.

According to Rumsfeld's way of counting casualties, if you are in a tank and it gets overturned by a roadside bomb and the tank lands in a ditch full of water and the crewmen drown, it is a drowning accident.

[BrotherBuzz]

4. Jeez Louise, is there a memo out there....

directing the DOD to cut back on the Purple Hearts so there won't be an incriminating permanent record as to how many soldiers and Marines are really getting wounded?

[NNN0LHI]

5. This soldier got his Purple Heart and then had it revoked

http://www.nbc5.com/news/4103696/detail.html

Indiana Congressman Calls Purple Heart Revocation 'Ridiculous'

[BrotherBuzz]

13. That sucks in spades!

I am of the opinion that anyone injured in the theater of operation should qualify, but I guess my voice doesn't carry much weight. I still wonder if the military did get a memo that said 'shave back on the numbers of Purple Hearts awarded' and this poor soul became a candidate on a technicality. Heck, the next group might be soldiers wounded by friendly fire.

[zann725]

12. That same thought occurred to me too. If they're SERIOUSLY understating

fatalities and serious injuries, then they need to "adjust" their medal records too. Though they might also be pulling the Medals from those who they would prefer NOT to cover with Health Coverage for life on injuries sustained in combat. After all, if someone gets a medal for being injured in the line of duty...but later the "records" are adjusted to show they were injured "off-duty," then (think about it): the Military conveniently wouldn't have to pay life-time medical benefits for the medal-related combat injuries. And for multiple amputees, my guess is the military is gonna try and eliminate as many of those "burdens" as possible, by "re-thinking" said medals, and how they may or may-not-have been won.

If we still had TRUE investigative journalists, I think there COULD be a real tragic story here. After all, didn't Bush say today that 'our troops need to make more sacrifices.'

[BrotherBuzz]

14. Your theory has merit

but I was just one of those dumb draftees that added "no value, no advantage, really...." (thanks Rumsfeld, you ass), and I think medical records and medals or awards are completely separate parts of the permanent record and shouldn't have any influence on each other. Being awarded a Purple Heart, in itself, doesn't guarantee anything, but I will grant you there may, indeed, be attempts to mitigate the medical records to reduce or eliminate future claims.

Cripes, I've become a cynical old fart....but for good reasons ;)

[leetrisck]

15. "Combat Related Special Compensation"

that went into effect may have something to do with it - medical records come into play now.

[teryang]

16. Your fundamental premise is wrong

A soldier, sailor, or airman on active duty is on active duty 24/7. Indeed this is the fundamental premise of the UCMJ and service connection. If a soldier gets injured skiing while on Christmas leave it is still a "service connected" injury. The only exception is if an injury was the result of misconduct, like robbing a bank. Therefore, the question of service connected entitlement to health care or disability benefits is not even in issue.

[The Night Owl]

7. Only the Smear Boat Liars can give out Purple Hearts!

John O'Neill - Smear Boat Maggot

.... ....

[Ouabache]

8. musta been just a scratch

or they wounded themselves on purpose.

[zann725]

9. Swiftboat Veterans for Truth probably looking into it right now!

n/t

[Dr Fate]

10. Yeah- at least these guys can still run for office someday...

...w/o Bush/media accusing them of "faking" their medals.

[The Night Owl]

11. Pat Peale will make certain that no Democrats get medals...

Pat Peale...



Only Republicans can be heroes in Pat Peale's delusional world.

[ucmike]

17. i had forgotten about that pathetic stunt.

the purple heart band aids made me sick. hypocrites. blech.

[Redstone]

18. You really think they'd want to understate casualties?

These, the same people who are putting soldiers who are brain-dead from head wounds on life-support machines and loading them into airplanes so they can OFFICIALLY die in Germany instead of Iraq?

Those cynical bastards are capable of anything. There's a special corner of Hell reserved for them, if there's any justice.

Redstone

[Divernan]

20. Hadn't heard about the life support scam to change place of death

Got links to any stories, or can you otherwise tell how you heard about this, because I really want to spread news of this far and wide.

[Redstone]

21. It was in the newspaper April 29, 2004

I think originally the Washington Post. The title of the story was "Army Doctors Battle Injuries And Despair."

You'll probably have to pay to get a copy from the WP or Hartford Courant (ctnow.com) archives; I'd email you the text of the article but I don't have it.

If you'd like a few details, you can read them at: http://www.iwvo.com/c_goff.htm

I'm astonished this never got more publicity. If you are able to spread awareness, that would be great.

Redstone

[w4rma]

19. Repukes can always issue them Purple Heart Band-Aids. (nt)