Those Progressive Danes! Their Purple Heart Just Extended To Include Ptsd

[fwduff]

I just came across this it was published in 2010 at the bottom is the link to the web site it came from

In a momentous development yet to be mentioned in the American or the English language-speaking press, we’ve learned that Denmark has expanded the criteria for their version of our Purple Heart medal — given to those who have been wounded physically in combat operations — to include those who suffer the less-visible wound of post-traumatic stress disorder.

From an official Danish government publication, issued date October 10, 2010, and translated here: “In 2010 Her Majesty The Queen approved that…veterans who are wounded physically in international operations can receive the Armed Forces Medal for Wounded in Service.”

Importantly, the publication adds, “The Government recognizes the psychological harm on an equal footing with physical damage, and has therefore taken the initiative to add recognition of physical and mental injuries treated. The Defense medal “Wounded in Service” will from now on be attributed also to those mentally wounded.”

This past summer, the Jutland Post (Jyllands-Posten), one of Denmark’s largest-selling newspapers, published a video expose of Danish war veterans “so frustrated by society’s lack of empathy for suffering war-related post-traumatic behavioral issues (PTSD) that they have gone beneath the radar and are living in forests, eating berries and catching wildlife to survive,” according to Danish journalist Bent Lorentzen, who wrote about it, here.

Then Gitte Lillelund Bech, the first female Defense Minister, offended many Danes when she suggested that it was up to the veterans to find their own mental help. The head of one Danish veterans’ organization, Lars Christensen, responded angrily (translated) that her remarks were “a great insult to the people who today are suffering after having served Denmark. We urge all veterans to send their medals for us and we will return them to the Minister. When Gitte Lillelund Bech send people to war, it is also her responsibility to treat them properly when they get home.

http://homecomingvets.com/2010/10/2...lude-ptsd-in-awarding-their-medal-to-wounded/

 

[Lurch]

I really have mixed emotions on this one. I know we suffer and have physical wounds because what we have gone through. I am very worried about the wanna-be types that are looking to get out and get paid. We see them all the time and it is hard to look at them seriously. I may be way too old to deal with a 20yo being med boarded for injuring their knee doing PT, and claims PTSD on the way out the door because the VA says they are not ratable. These numb nutts just piss me off! Wish keel hauling was still legal.

 

[Zenmaster1]

I am gonna agree with Lurch on this one. It is the ones that are faking and just after a payday that brings a stigma to those actually diagnosed with PTSD.
Hell, we suffer enough already with the perception of what PTSD really is anyway. On the other side, it is good that the Danes are recognizing that soldiers can be mentally wounded as well....

 

[Chin Strapped]

Have a medal for your ptsd; I'd run a mile.

It's an effort I guess

 

[JarHed]

This is a tough one. I do agree with Lurch as well.

I was wounded twice; first time during a mortar attack on our compound and the second time from a 'booby trap', an IED in today's jargon. Got f*cked up pretty badly, I'll leave it at that. Don't want to talk more about that. I did receive a Purple Heart w/device to denote that I'd been wounded twice. I felt back then that it was the 'f*ckups' medal, meaning that somehow I should have been able to avoid being wounded. Pretty dumb on that one of course. I think it was intended for wounds received in combat.

Although PTSD is serious and linked to our experiences in combat so is exposure to chemicals, bio-agents, radiation, ect. Those that are sickened from that need treatment. Not a medal. To recognize that we, as soldiers, can be exposed to many things that threaten our lives is an important thing. There's still a stigma attached to having PTSD or any other mental condition. Just my opinion here.

 

[Sarg]

No, you're right on, Jar. If you recall, we went through this last year, where they tried to enact it. Had they done so, I wouldn't have put it on my rack. It's a medal given to those who shed blood for their country. Your ass has to be up there where the action is, or it's a "shooting accident".

I don't want a damn medal. I want our people cared for by the agency tasked to do so. It isn't happening, so fire the bunch, issue plastic cards to the injured so they can seek treatment from a caring facility.

I don't believe my "injured psyche" deserves a medal.

Sarg

 

[Lurch]

Have a medal for your ptsd; I'd run a mile.

It's an effort I guess

Dan, don't understand your post. Can you explain?

 

[BaMuoiBa]

Bingo Jar!

Those that are sickened from that need treatment. Not a medal.

There is no medal that will remove the cancers from me or the other veterans who suffer from Agent Orange related issues. Those veterans everyday await the other shoe to drop and see the effects in the children of their children. My wife and I were never able to have children. Many years of trying to understand the "why" of it caused strain as we tried to place blame on ourselves and on God. It was not until we understood the source of did we feel it was the grace of God and we may have spared another generation.

As far as the PTSD goes, I think the medal should go to the people who have done the research into the cause and effect and understanding of the problems associated with PTSD. We have the luxury to benefit from a whole host of drugs and therapies that many of our brothers and sisters in WWII and Korea did not. They were buried with the Beast right up to the very end, never knowing the occasional glimpse of peace some of us enjoy today. For some of us old nam farts that self medicated for 35-40 years that same medal should go to the spouses and children that stayed till the end of the dance.


Ba

 

[vikingr12]

A guy told me a few months back that he is collecting $54,000 a year after spending almost 3 years in his appeal for PTSD. Did he have it? I doubt it seriously. One of the best actors I have seen.

I know Halloween when I see it. But someone I knew had it, I would help them get $54,000 a year for life. Not him. He is the type that makes it hard for all of us to get the help, and not just money.

 

[Chin Strapped]

Dan, don't understand your post. Can you explain?

I personally would not want to receive a medal for ptsd. Not sure what else you want?

 

[JarHed]

I think when ever you have any system where designed to help people there will always be those that will see it as a 'cash cow' and take advantage of it. Just the nature of some humans, not all.

I remember when we had to report to sick bay when I was stateside, it was just awful. Had to pack the contents of your locker, put it in your c-bag and take it and your foot locker to supply for storage. Then take your rifle to the armory for storage. It was supposed to 'discourage' those that were malingerers, as they called them. Then go and stand in line at the sick bay for an hour or so till you got to see someone. If you were really sick it certainly made it worse. The one's looking to get out of work didn't care, it was part of the drill for them. They did it all the time.

It's impossible to weed out those that will do that. It just makes it harder for those of us that need the services that we are applying for.

For a career military person medals and patches denote where you've been and what you've done. I understand that. For me, personally, the medals I received didn't help at all; not for a job, a thank you, or a drink. Sorry, that's still an issue for me as ya'll see.

When we serve, we do it without question putting our lives on the line and not always because of being under fire. It comes with the territory, we know that but we shouldn't have to fight for our right to treatment for those things. It may sound naive but that's just wrong.

Just my 2cents this morning.

Jar

 

[OldDoorGunner]

I don't like the idea of getting PH for the beast......Don't care all that much about medals, in Nam I saw a lot of line officers that walked by a Huey get an AM or two....What BS!!!........I got hit pretty good with some shrapnel in my left leg, from an RPG as we were turning out bound. Had a SF Doc fix it, instead of going to Japan. We were short DG's and I did not want to go off flight status or Japan and maybe come back to a different unit.....Doc gave me some pain pills that I didn't really need....The Doc, my CO and I pissed on a few Army Regs.:D Things worked out fine......I did not get a PH for this and that is fine with me, the leg is good to go. Now for the guys that get the MOH down to the PH, they earned it.....Jar you earned them Brother.......

J R