Dave Says:

May 13th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
How about creating a new award and calling in the “Bleeding Heart”?

Further:

I even wonder if he even served anything but his own selfish interest.

Come on Dave; tell us about your purple heart and what part of you is in pain….

If you so easily discount mental pain why do you think physical pain should be rewarded?

Do you really think all the young men and women coming home from our last wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should be told to suck it up and not be affected by war?

Are you so calluses as to say “get over it” to the families of the soldiers who committed suicide?

Do tell us about your wounds and pain, I for one would like to hear about your medals… if there are any.

Share more of you cold disregard for those who serve, I am sure you will make a lot of friends by sharing your wisdom on the human condition.

It is a proven fact that no one can stand up to combat conditions in war beyond a certain time frame without being changed both mentally and physically.

How long did it take you to become the way you are?

04/18/09

When I read the two books listed below by Jonathan Shay I realized that an External Trauma is an Injury and not a Disorder. Dr. Shay said this early in his books and I realized the importance of the difference. I was injured by forces beyond my control and I should not be listed as having a disorder. I and all the other veterans of foreign wars no mater what it is called (Shell Shock, Battle Fatigue, or PTSD) should be recognized as suffering from an injury and not a disorder.

“Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character”
“Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming”

“Jonathan Shay a psychiatrist in the Department of Veteran Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Boston.”

If the Military decides to award the Purple Heart to veterans who suffered from mental/psychological injuries I would hope that they would change the PTSD to the real and true PTSI. Post Traumatic Stress Injury is real.

My opinion is not meant to offend any veteran who has a wound be it physical or mental. I served with good men and I received an Honorable Discharge. I never regretted my service. I do think the veteran deserves the benefit of the doubt and should receive the honorable reward that a medal represents.

Ellison Hunt
08/01/08

An idea was floated recently to change the regulations for the Purple Heart Medal to allow it for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Current regulations require a physical wound. I have deep reservations about this, not because it’s not a worthy idea, b….

Psychological wounds aren’t the same as physical ones. Medals are already being handed out like candy. This will be seen as diluting the value of the already plentiful medal. Not a good plan.

Certainly, more recognition is needed of the problem of PTSD, but I don’t think a medal is the way to go about it.