Purple Heart

[PureangerPurecalm]

New
I know this isn't hot right now but it does show up every couple of months.. To solve the back and forth about the Purple Heart losing value if it is given to those who have Combat PTSD is to break it up into different classes like the Legion of Merit depending on the circumstances, or can even change its color if it something like friendly fire(purple and blue for instance). That way instead of someone getting a scratch and someone dying in combat can get the Purple Heart but now people can see which one they are a recipient of instead of a blanket medal. Plus this way more of us that need help can hopefully be seen by the VA before it is to late.

 

[Grizzly]

I could personally care less. In the end whats it going to get me? Just treat me, thats all I want. I really dont care If you give me compensation. Let me see a Doc that actually will give a shit. That would be worth a lot more than a fifty cent piece of tin.

 

[PureangerPurecalm]

That is what I was saying, expand it so the treatment will cover more of us than just the physical wounded. Instead of being last in line we could be moved up closer to the front and maybe not have so many of us die waiting for treatment that should already be started.

 

[Barberian]

I don't want a Purple Heart or any medal or ribbon for my mental issues. I don't want any special treatment over other veterans. We all served, we all sacrificed. We all suffer in our own ways. I do believe it would diminish it's value to give it for mental health issues. There are so many vets who are not actually disabled collecting disability benefits for mental health issues. A physical wound, inflicted by the enemy is much, much harder to fake.

Also, how can anyone prove a mental health issue is directly related to enemy action, and not some other issue?

My experience in the VA is first come, first serve (with exceptions not related to disability - "secret lists"). I wish the VA would have an effective prioritization practice. See those who are the worse off first, work your way down the list as long as no one gets ignored or their care excessively delayed.

My two copper.

 

[JarHed]

As a standard the Purple Heart is awarded for 'wounds received in combat'. I don't think it needs to be changed, expanded or updated. PTSD is a condition that is the result of our experiences during combat. I personally think there's a vast difference between the two. But conditions that are acquired due to combat; PTSD, exposure to chemicals, or things in the environment where the combat took place need to be treated.

I was severely wounded, twice. I can tell you the VA didn't give a rats ass about that in the way that you might think. It didn't move me to the front of any lines or get me more or better treatment. I got the treatment I needed because I was persistent with them and wouldn't let it go. That's what will always have to be done if you want something to get taken care of. They aren't going to come knocking on your door. To them it wouldn't mater if you had a CMH.

Just my own experiences with them and in this life.

Jar

 

[Jimmy1]

How do you like something using tapatalk. Doin my head in

 

[holdenmonty]

As an active duty perspective I think awarding the purple heart for PTSD wouldn't be a bad thing but giving it retro actively kind of defeats the purpose. To me all medals except for acts of heroism are really for when your active duty. That is why you wear them on your dress uniform. They are there to show what you have done. Unless you are one of those guys that likes to wear a certain metal embroidered on a hat like I have seen some guys that have been awarded the silver star or sometimes purple heart but if you are one of those people you should be ready to tell your story. For instance I'm a wounded warrior project alumni and I carried around a water bottle that they gave me that says wounded warrior project alumni on it until it broke and when people asked me about it I explained that I was an alumni because of the time I spent in Afghanistan and that I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2011 and luckily they didn't ask any further questions because at the time I wasn't/still not ready to tell a complete stranger my story.

 

[PureangerPurecalm]

Actually I was just thinking out loud to see what people's ideas would be to help people with PTSD since the VA keeps dragging its feet and I know with a Purple Heart Medal you will be moved to priority 3 group. I also am wounded warrior alumni because of my PTSD from JTF-GTMO. It took me 6-7 years for me to even confront it after denying that I had it because of GTMO since I wasn't firing at or getting shot at. Then an appointment was made for me to talk to the head shrinker and now I have had 5 of them tell me I have it. Back on topic, I just think more should be done than what the VA is doing. We have to many Veterans killing themselves each day because of this and I know this medal helps get them treatment.

 

[holdenmonty]

That is pretty cool I didn't know about the metal getting you more priority. I think it might be a good idea then. Maybe it would save some lives luckily I haven't dealt with the VA yet but with hearing about how awful they are I can understand how some do commit suicide.

 

[combatgoldfish]

I'll pass on it. Wouldn't make any difference at the VA, I'm no longer in the military, so no good there either.

I can tell ya where most metals end up, in a box collecting dust, left on the tombs of soldiers that didn't make it home or in the trash. Hell I've seen medals dropped on the grounds after they've been pinned.

PTSD doesn't need a medal. It just needs to be addressed and care needs to be provided.

 

[JarHed]

PTSD doesn't need a medal. It just needs to be addressed and care needs to be provided.

I agree. too many medals already. As I said, in my experience it didn' mean a f*ckin' thing. What's next a medal for getting drunk and falling down the stairwell??

 

[dutchiedelta]

We got a medal for bravery under fire. Translated we didn't soil ourselves and were unable to move position on account of geography in Golan. So we stayed put and gave it all we had.
Nothing heroic about it.
Left it with my ex who probably binned it.
It was embarrassing to receive it knowing others had died there. Most of us felt humiliated but you couldn't say no at the time to the tin.

Still embarrassed about it.