RE: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,166997,00.html

Comments welcome.

I really hope the regs are changed to allow for the awarding of the Purple Heart for PTSD. In some cases it really can be totally debilitating, and even when it isn't, it is still obtained the same way any physical wound is in combat, and ought to be treated as such.

I'm sorry. I understand the attempt to de- stigmatize PTSD, and I understand it is a real issue, but I do think it would lessen the Purple Heart if PTSD made one eligible for it's award. I believe one should bleed or suffer painful injury to rate. There is already too much abuse regarding the award going on.

What is PTSD? To what extent does it impair you? It's all pretty nebulous I think.

I went to see the movie Iron Man. The opening sequence is an IED attack. I've seen real ones. I've been in a few. One in a movie should be no big deal, but the minute one of the soldiers screamed "Contact Left" I started to sweat and get itchy. I felt like I should move, leave, look away, or do something. I wasn't freaking out but it was very uncomfortable. It wasn't the Hollywood gunfire and explosions, it was the phrase "contact left". And I had nothing to do. I felt like I should do something, like I was forgetting something. But there was nothing to do.
Some people might call that PTSD. I don't think so. I think it's probably a natural reaction given the circumstances of ingrained training and real experience.
But that's just my opinion, and I could be totally wrong. I'm not a doctor.

To Sheepdog A39- I'm a 22+ yr Airborne RGR 11B vet- Grenada, Panama, GW1 and Somaila- been retired 10 yrs- I have PTSD and major depression- buried over 2 dozen of my friends and comrades- I'm now to the point of no longer ducking and covering during fireworks, or truck backfires, but I still jerk and sometimes crouch. The nightmares and cold sweats don't come as much, but the uncontrollble crying jags are still with me and the Doctors say they can help me to control it somewhat, but I will never lose it or heal from it. Don't need a PH, qualified for 6 already- It's there, it caused some grief with my family when I was belligerent and angry and not many understand the crying. If I had announced wanting Mental health in the 90's, my TS w/SPECAT would have disappeared and I would have lost my position as a senior OPS NCO.PTSD sometimes takes time to build for some like me, others are hit hard the 1st time- maybe you're lucky right now, but there's a good chance you will have it and there's no cure- you just try to survive it without losing your mind.

Roger That.

I say all of the warriors receive a purple heart medal when they are issued their five bullets at the airport in Kuwait. Pretty soon, it will be issued when a Drill Instructor or Drill Sergeant yells at them. If you really one, go to the PX and buy one, and only wear it at home, on leave.

Thoughts of an OIF, RPG-tatooed amputee.

Thank you for you heroic service sir.
I personally don't want one.
I thought I did way back when I was a young Soldier in the Army.
I think that the Purple Heart should have more strict guidlines.
I don't see the comparison with PTSD and your lost limb.

quote:

To Sheepdog A39- I'm a 22+ yr Airborne RGR 11B vet- Grenada, Panama, GW1 and Somaila- been retired 10 yrs

Peace on ya brother. Thank you for being in the 1 percent. I'm alright though. Got a little hatred for bad Hadjis, but can still tell the difference. I am fortunate. I went to war with 16 years of training and 20 years of life experience as an adult male. I'm going to be fine. I'm ready to go back. I feel for the kids though. This is shaping them.

quote:

Thank you for you heroic service sir.
I personally don't want one.
I thought I did way back when I was a young Soldier in the Army.
I think that the Purple Heart should have more strict guidlines.
I don't see the comparison with PTSD and your lost limb.

Amen.

For what it's worth.... Soldier suicides could trump war tolls: US health official

Thanks for that.
I started reading the report but when, "could" and "if" were introduced I closed it.
Look, I appreciate what you are trying to say but the only people who can understand this have either been WIA or have been,(or have yet to be) diagnosed with PTSD.
PTSD can cause not only mental problems it can also cause physical problems. Just when you think you have things under control it will start to affect you physically.
A seperate award for PTSD? Maybe, but not the Purple Heart.

Thanks,
Mac

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CorporalMcIntyre:
Thanks for that.
I started reading the report but when, "could" and "if" were introduced I closed it.
Look, I appreciate what you are trying to say but the only people who can understand this have either been WIA or have been,(or have yet to be) diagnosed with PTSD.
PTSD can cause not only mental problems it can also cause physical problems. Just when you think you have things under control it will start to affect you physically.
A seperate award for PTSD? Maybe, but not the Purple Heart.

Thanks,
Mac[/QUOTE

Thanks Mac, you put it right.

I was active duty AF at Khobar Towers Bombing , Jun 96. Even tho that night I thought I was a very lucky person, I was thrown across a room, had a concussion, 2 small cuts on the left side of my head and about 4 or 5 cuts on my legs all from flyin glass. Had a ringing in my ears for days. and didnt sleep for 2 or 3 nights. Ringing got better, I started sleeping again, cuts got better. PTSD stuck with. Thunder and lighting storms, Car backfire. fireworks, I can not go to a resterant and sit with my back to the door. If I see any one from that part of the world ,,My nerves go nuts.
couple months later I had PCSed, was awarded the purple heart for being wombed at Khobar Towers. 4 months after the bombing, I started having head aches, then had a stroke. they said I had two blood clots where I was cut on the head from the flying glass.
Physically ,,I got a little bit better ,,short term memory problem, cognitive loss, I have uncontrolled sezures, and still PTSD.
Meds, for you name I take it.

Even tho I have been linked with 50% PTSD.
The Purple Heart should stay the way it is now.
George Washington would turn over in his grave .

had a friend at khobar when it was attacked, stepped on a piece of glass, no stitch's got the heart. hospital for ptsd 3 times don't tell me his toe wound is worse than my ptsd.either make the standards stricter, and spell it out like insurance company's do. loss of limb, eye site, full heart. loss of thumb purple heart level 2.
or maybe a red heart with ben franklin for the lower rated wounds. or like kerry 3 purple hearts from what i understand he should have got the purple earring, how about you have to have a C.I.B. to be edible for a heart.
i have it, for ptsd a black heart with silver on 1 side to represent life before ptsd and put freud's face on it

quote:

how about you have to have a C.I.B. to be edible for a heart.

That only works if you are Army.

Although I received a back injury in a bomb blast ay Bein Hoa when the flight line blew, I was never even thought of to get the Purple Heart. Yet now I suffer from Agent Orange poisoning and am 100% disabled by PTSD. I have so many deseases and problems from both that I can't get into it here. Yes we should be awarded the award.

Is the upsurge in PTSD cases from the war or from society's cool reception toward the warriors? Maybe it's different now but when I came home in 1973 too many civilians and especially civilians in positions of authority didn't know and didn't seem to care about what we had gone through. Then I didn't get my head squared away before my GI Bill benefits expired so I've ended up funding my own education. And to cap it all off a certain draft dodger W.J.C. got elected, not once but twice, to be commander-in-chief. By 2003 I'd had enough and decided to take my AFGCM and NDSM into self-imposed exile in the UK.

I was treated like dirt in California when I returned from Vietnam and also at home. I don't always agree with the goverment but I'll be damned if I'd leave this country I served and love.

yes, I think also that there should be some discussion about criteria before a dec ision is made. I had a door gunner of mine get hit twice, once in his leg and one on his arm from small arms fire during an extracton in Afghanistan. Our commander determined the wounds were "too small" to warrant award of the PH. So who decides which wound is acceptable for the award. Is it a jealous, overzealous commander who thinks that because he doesn't have one than no one in his command will get one, even though he is eligible. What about a soldier who is evading enemy fire or an IED in Iraq and crashes his vehicle and hurts his back or neck. He won't have any visible wounds, he will probably not even say anything about it and go back to work the next day. After a while though, and I bet many of you have been there, he will have pain for most of his life in one way or another. Yea, his injuries may not be seen by others, but he knows they are there. Which lead me to PTSD, something I have to deal with everyday myself. I haven't made up my mind whether it justifies a PH yet, but I can say that I take enough medication and see as many doctors on a regular basis as do soldiers (some) with visible wounds. My PTSD did come from enemy contact as well as other stressors. I also am an older vet, (48 when I was in Afghanistan) and can say also that my life has been turned upside down. For evryone with visible wounds from direct enemy contact and earned the PH, I salute you and thank you.

Having been infantry in NAM, Medic in Desert Storm, fomer VA Rating Specialist and now medically retired because of PTSD. I am not proud of it or the spinal stenosis and nor do I wear it like I have seen some pretty sorry wannabees. Cambat medals are for combat. The PH is for blood lost, unless you are John Kerry (then I have one due). I never heard of a Marine combat officer or Army Officer ever having the diagnosis. Maybe as my former CO said, maturity and attitude have a lot to do with it and I agree with him. PTSD is not a hero badge, just get help. The sooner the better and get some good support, from the best source, your friends and family.

Veterans who have been wounded by PTSD should have a medal of their own, separate from the Purple Heart.