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Subscribe to RSSThe National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a grassroots advocacy organization, released a report Thursday calling for the military to make service members with combat-related post-traumatic stress and other psychological injuries eligible to receive the Purple Heart.
The report, Parity for Patriots, argues that mental health disorders are "signature" injuries of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In 2011, there were more hospitalizations for mental disorders amongst active-duty service members than for any other major illness or injury, affecting one in five individuals.
Sita Diehl, the report's author and director of state policy and advocacy for NAMI, said that in addition to PTSD, the military should also consider combat-related depression for Purple Heart eligibility. Previous research, Diehl said, has shown that after a sixth or seventh deployment, it is standard to experience about six months of combat-related depression.
The Purple Heart is awarded to service members who have been wounded or killed by the enemy in combat. Post-traumatic stress disorders currently do not justify a Purple Heart, according to Army regulations. Other injuries that do not merit the Purple Heart include heat stroke, frostbite, battle fatigue and accidents.
Awarding the Purple Heart for mental illness that results from combat, Diehl said, would "help to recognize these are genuine medical conditions. If you get a psychological wound in battle, that means you are courageous. We want that to be recognized."
NAMI spokesman Bob Carolla said the organization previously approached military leaders privately about Purple Heart eligibility, but said it never received a response. This is the first time the organization has publicly called for changes to the regulations.
The report also outlines a looming mental health crisis for service members, veterans and their families. Studies have shown that military spouses and children are diagnosed with anxiety, depression and other mental disorders at rates comparable to service members.
In order to address various aspects of the crisis, the report called on the Department of Defense to require commanders to focus on preventing psychological injuries and deaths; said the Veteran Health Administration should ensure that more veterans and their families have access to care; and recommended that the Department of Health and Human Services finalize regulations for a federal parity law that would fully end discriminatory practices in mental health care treatment.
Still, Diehl said, the responsibility to help service members, veterans and their families can't fall only to the government.
"These [agencies] can’t do it alone," she said, "We as the American people need to reach out and care."
Rebecca Ruiz is a reporter at msnbc.com and a 2011-2012 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow. Follow her on Twitter here.
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Leave a Comment:
The Purple Heart is awarded for "death or wound incurred as a direct result of enemy action." PTSD, while certainly an injury, is not a wound.
To make everyone happy, why don't we just come up with a diffrent medal for this? A pink heart? :)~
denver i agree with you 100 % but UAW please don't be a smart ass about this PTSD Vets have a HUGE suicide rate
Anyone suffering from PTSD is just as wounded as any other wounded person. It imposes debilitating lifelong disabilities on the sufferer. As a Marine Corps combat veteran , I suffer from PTSD I also attend a group therapy session with other combat veterans afflicted with PTSD as a direct result of combat. If you do not have PTSD do not discount it or minimize it. I suggest you study PTSD and talk with nurses and doctors that cared for wounded in a combat theater, many of whom suffer from PTSD. I strongly suggest that you never minimize this subject with a combat veteran.
Michael i am with you i would love to have bobm say that crap at this Marine 03 Sgt. face he wont have one for long himself make sure to stop taking my meds a cpl days before we meet up .
Agreed Michael, in fact, as a Vietnam Combat Vet, I can remember being in The Vet Center, years ago -- when wounded Vets and PTSD Vets were in Group Therapy, and to my surprise...the wounded Vets said they felt sorry for the PTSD Vets because they had no missing limbs, or frag wounds, or bullet holes to validate their injury. So, guys, take it from real wounded combat Vets, they realize that Mental Injury is just as valid or maybe more valid than having an obvious injury to focus on....
I strongly feel that PTSD is a very real and very unfortunate condition and that we need to continue taking steps to ensure the mental health of veterans and people who are actively putting their lives at risk for their country and for the cause of freedom.
However, I also feel that the purple heart should be given to those who have not only risked their lives and endured difficult experiences, but who have had bullets and grenades blasted into their bodies. Becoming a paraplegic or losing a hand or having lifelong kidney problems is something that is added on top of PTSD that exists in many soldiers. It is a double whammy that deserves extra recognition, I think.
Unfortunately that leaves us back where we started: with PTSD not being given the respect it needs and therefore with many cases not being reported. I feel that this is not an appropriate move and may actually raise public animosity toward PTSD rather than reduce it. People will lose faith in the purple heart, in mental health professionals, and in soldiers who report PTSD.
Very counterproductive move.
I regret the way I said this. Basically I feel that in some cases it would be very deserved. Since eligibility is the issue, not automatically giving the medals away, I think almost everyone would accept giving Purple Hearts to people who experienced real trauma.
Patton would've gotten slap-happy on this one
being a nurse and a combat veteran i do believe your wrong on this..this is a injury related to combat.. not that i really care about this medal FOR MYSELF.
By the time PTSD is severe enough to cause a disability brain changes usually are visible on scans.If untreated PTSD may cause permanent brain damage.Michael is right on.
No one is minimizing the reality of PTSD and its effects, but I wonder if veterans who experience it want to receive a medal. Would it in fact help some of them to heal, or is it an unwanted decoration which points up their psychological condition?
I am a veteran of the United States Army military police corps and I would be adamantly opposed to awarding the Purple Heart for PTSD. To my brothers in arms, I sympathize with you regarding the atrocities that you witnessed and totally understand your pain. However, every single soldier, marine, airman, or sailor assigned to serve in a combat zone has some degree of stress that they have to deal with, either directly or indirectly. The campaign ribbon is the symbol of the stress that we have all endured during these times of war. This is not little league baseball, the Purple Heart is not a participation award. It is awarded to those that have given their blood in defense of the flag of the United States of America. Thanks to all the veterans for their service and to the soldiers serving abroad for keeping our country safe
This article is a crock of BS. Don't devalue the meaning of a Purple Heart by allowing this to occur. They already have been handing out Purple Hearts for sprained ankles and scratched fingers please don't diminish anymore. This nation of panty waisted, bleeding heart liberals needs to start being proud again and making number 1 stand for something. They have dummied down the younger generation to where it is almost wrong to call yourself a winner because you might hurt someone else's feelings. Let the military decide who is brave and courageous and deserve recognition not a bunch of pussy medical people. Heck it is hard enough at the VA to get compensated for real injuries these wimps with supposed PTSD just have to say they had a bad nightmare and they get compensated. Let's start being a little more rigourous in our diagnosis and give credit where credit is due.
bobm,
My original comment pointed out the criteria for the award of a Purple Heart. I said nothing about those who might or might not receive it for a very specific reason. I am a decorated combat veteran who has friends who suffer from PTSD. The fact that their injury doesn't qualify them for a Purple Heart does not in any way minimize their suffering or their contribution to our country. And while there are slackers and fakers in the military (as there have been since armies existed), they are the few, not the many. Your comments demean only yourself. (PS. I was not decorated because I did anything special, only because somebody "important" happened to see me do it.)
bobm,spoken like someone whose never served in the miltiary. Neither have I,but at least I am greatefull to the people that did what I wasnt willing to when I was younger. Yes,there are plenty of fakers out there,in fact,there are plenty of fakers who never WERE in the military,but there are also pleny to people who are not.
I worked with a many who fought in the pacific in WWII. He and only four others from his unit survived at Iwo Jima. He carried the psycological scars for his entire life. I dont care WHAT you have done in your life,unless you did something comperable to what HE did,sit down,and shut up.
@bobm-346250 wimps with PTSDwow are you a vet ? you cant be with disrespecting a brother or sister in arms like that. I suffered for almost 20 years with nightmares flash backs suicide thoughts . I do agree with you about bleeding liberals and making this nation proud again but DO NOT SLAM other vets that saw more action then you did behind a desk. Vets who have seen action don't slam vets like you are . My best friend who is a Navy Seabee held a young kid in his arms who was dieing also trying to hold the kids guts in waiting for the DOC to help all under small arms and mortar fire during the same fire fight he was a friend get blown to pieces by a mortar round. SO my question to you is dose that make him a pussy for having nightmares not sleeping or eating wetting him self when he dose sleep he is on suicide watch now and is in therapy . i guess he is a pussy and not a big tough guy like you who saw a lot of action from your desk Hugh SEMPER FI have a great day bobm
Dear 0311Marine
We have a nation of people who have not been asked to do anything during several wars, other than to, "spend," during our recent war, or to have an anti-war party during Vietnam. And then they watch a few war movies, and submit silly, immature opinions like Bobm.
OK. Am I bitter? Yes, probably so. I thank you for your service to our country. Roger Stavitz WELCOME HOME, my man!
bobm. Ya know when General Patton slapped a soldier with battle fatigue he was relieved of command and the military forced him to apologize to the entire Army. You sir owe every vet and Pussy combat medic and Corpsman an apology. As a former Pussy Combat medic who saw people better than you make the ultimate sacrifice and experience wounds too horriffic to describe, my personal response to you is; when you meet a vet just say thak you and be on your way.
thank you
Purple Heart for PTSD? Absolutely NOT. the Purple Heart would lose its significance. I work with veterans everyday and not to take away from the veterans who have been truly damaged by combat; there are many out there who are trying to milk the system. by this i mean they talk to other veterans to see "what they said" in order to get the diagnosis. PTSD is not a lifelong problem. with therapy one can improve mental stability, but if you blame everything on PTSD... i am not buying it..
Jill you have no idea what you type about i take anti syc. meds every day just to go the hell out side of my house to work. For years i would jump at a sound all most piss my self if a car backfired would NEVER go into a large crowed , go some place to eat always sit next to a exit back to a wall and facing the room.99% of the time i carried a gun just to feel safe like in the field in a forward operating area PTSD is easy to fake yes but i had to see so many docs at the VA just to get help after 20 years of suffering i see a shrink and a therapist who say i may never get better because i waited to get help for so long so kiss my ass it is a life long problem for people who really have it not arm chair warriors like you
Actually, gijill, PTSD is a lifelong problem. You are wrong about that. Not to take anything away from this thread being about combat vets (thank you all for your service) but adults who suffered extreme, prolonged abuse as children also suffer from this lifelong disorder. I know. I have lived with it my entire life. It's a bi*ch.
So thrilled that THIS war deserves Purple Heart. Not to take ANYTHING away from this generation of veterans, but try living with a Viet Nam vet for 40 years and then talk about Purple Hearts!!!
My husband is a Vietnam Veteran and to this day he can NOT watch any movies about Vietnam (nightmares), he has an EXTREMELY hard time allowing himself to cry or grieve, he startles easily, and can not look at masks (reminds him of corpses missing the backs of their heads). Many people do not realize how devastating & hellish the reality of combat is to our Veterans and not all wounds are visable...
Dear WCF1957 Right On!
A lot of people, including many military officers and enlisted, may not understand PTSD, because
they are not vulnerable to it. And, in fact, if a bullet hits one part of your thigh, it's an easy injury to heal, with a purple heart. If it hits a millimeter away, it knicks an artery and you bleed to death. So life and luck are strongly intertwined.
I used to say, some people could take a bath in Agent Orange, and come out feeling refreshed
and wonderful with no side effects. Each person is different, and has a different genetic, personality makeup.
Recently, a General was reprimanded, and had to issue an apology when he had angrily
mentioned that a trooper in his unit who had committed suicide was, "selfish!"
Gee. Have you ever seen a selfish person like a General Officer, who has
probably stepped on and over more people in his desire to be promoted to the
ultimate rank? LOL
The General was forced to apologize, naturally, for his stupidity, arrogance and lack of
understanding, and I'm sure General Patton was in this group of people, also.
Suicide and PTSD are mental health issues, and are a medical problem. My second cousin, a Navy
Vietnam Veteran, used his father's pistol (his father was a retied Air Force Colonel) to shoot himself, 25 years ago. PTSD is often a fatal disease. I survived my suicide attempts, and am lucky to be here to document my cousin's service.
How many tens of thousands of Vietnam Veterans have killed themselves, either in direct suicide,
or drug/alcohol fueled deaths? So for young Jill to assume that PTSD is something curable and people fake it to get money is silly.
Yes. It is the human tendency to lie about anything, and after the Civil War, there were a
whole group of Irish immigrants in the Mollie Maguires and other gangs in Pennsylvania coal country, collecting pensions after claiming to be in the Union Army, or assuming the persona of others who were dead. This happens all over the world, no matter where you live.
Well, guess I'm not going to change anyone's mind, so I might as well get off my soapbox.
WELCOME HOME, and thanks for serving, AND PLEASE IGNORE THOSE NAIVE PEOPLE WHO DISMISS PTSD AS A SIMPLE COLD THAT WILL GO AWAY IN TIME
PTSD is a debilitating illness that affects so many that have served in the military. It is just as bad as getting wounded, just mentally instead of physically. I agree they deserve the respect.
I'm of this opinion that all who are diagnosised with PTSD are wounded and should be awarded the PH on the basis of percentage and incident. Because war in itself is stressful and people will have after effects so let those who have servere conditions be awarded, not demeaning the intent of the award looking back to other war periods
This may sound silly, but it occurred to me that they could create a special medal for PTSD, and for me, a
pin that looked like a brain (gray in color) seemed appropriate, but I'm sure this would not fly. Perhaps another sort of award (a different name, and a different shape) might serve the purpose of those of us who think an award for a permanent psychiatric injury, incurred while serving our country, could be
awarded?
This might satisfy those who are opposed to the Purple Heart award. In fact, those who were physically
injured, and then recovered, but had psychiatric injuries, could be awarded both medals?
I am not making jokes, but just trying to, as they say, "THINK OUT OF THE BOX." But I do think that people with PTSD should be honored with an award of some kind.
For me, I don't much care about awards, and am old, and soon to die. But I think it would go far to honor
those who have incurred psychiatric injuries while serving our country in time of war. Roger Stavitz in Danforth, Maine,
My father had a cousin who was diagnosed with what was called "battle fatigue" after the Battle of the Bulge" and was declared 100% disabled. If you had witnessed his life thereafter you would never say it was NOT wounded. This man experienced horrible nightmares and and relived the events that led to his "break" (if you will); he actually had to be put on a heavy anti-psychotics to keep from screaming and thrashing about.
I had a patient who was a survivor of the Bataan Death March -- he deserved much more than a Purple Heart for the his mental health issues that came afterwards....
But if you really want to understand PTSD, look up film clips from WW One that shows soldiers with "shell shock" and you will see men with tremors, jerking movements, men startled by the slightest sound or bright lights among many other symptoms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS1dO0JC2EE this one is a real eye-opener...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Jll9_EiyA
I will quote the WW One British officer and poet Sassoon who wrote: "sneak home and pray you'll never know the hell where youth and laughter go...."
signed, an old army brat whose nephew is 4th generation serving our nation in uniform in time of war....
ptsd is a wound and those with combat diagnosis should be awarded,but war itself is a stressor. let the incident decide the award and possibility institute something else honorable to establish health care privileges for the rest in a nutshell both get recognized
give combat ptsd vets the PH metal all other cases some award or campaign badge to allow health care priority and priviledges and on incident basis
Amen.
My firstborn son, a USMC vet from Iraq, was just admitted this week to an inpatient psych unit for evaluation & treatment of PTSD.
Four years after he completed his service.
Four years of living with nightmares, alcoholism, broken relationships, lost jobs, unreachable dreams and absolute agony.
I might be prejudiced, but I say that deserves a medal...
Dear
Sedgwickgrad
I'm sorry to hear about your son, but that is typical of PTSD. It is called, "Post Traumatic." because it
shows after the incident occurs, and not immediately.
I'm not being rude, but us Vietnam Veterans were laughed at and made fun of by many in the WW II generation who did not understand. Now, recently, they have released a film of returning WW II vets with mental health problems, now that most WW II vets are dead.
Over the years, the most common jokes I heard from other Nam Vets in treatment was that the VA was
waiting for all of us to be dead before the VA would care for us. And to some extend, that is true. Many of us finally got our benefits as the WW II generation died off (my Mother included), as each 100% WW II veteran that died left money in the VA budget for us Nam Vets. War is a sad situation, no matter
what the outcome, is my take on that one.
My heart goes out to your son. This WW II film was recently released and is available for people to view
on the Internet, for those naysayers of PTSD. Supposedly, 20% of WW II vets were diagnosed, according to this film, but I'll let the numbers go to the math experts.
Suffice it to say that many of us human beings are subject to psychiatric casualties in the service of our
country in a war. My VA chaplain used to say that it was the more sensitive of us who were most vulnerable, and I was always a sensitive kid, very much moved by the emotions I experienced. It is true that just as some people may easily heal from any physical wound, there are others who die of the same wounds. I hope your son survives and finds meaning in his life. Roger Stavitz in Danforth,
Maine.
The film that was released, after the US Army had banned it from being shown for in 1946, is called LET
THERE BE LIGHT (1946). It is a documentary directed by John Huston. You can download it or view it on the Internet by using Google and searching for National Film Preservation Foundation: Let There
Be Light.
No blood no medal.
They can get some kind of fruit salad, but not a Purple Heart.
"Other injuries that do not merit the Purple Heart are heatstroke, frostbite, battle fatigue, and accidents..." The reason? Most accidents are preventable. Heatstroke, sunburn, frostbite, etc. Fatigue can be remedied with sufficient rest and relaxation. I would encourage those of you out there to do some serious research on PTSD and educate yourselves on how it came to be "recognized" as a disorder. Not every individual who has experienced combat, and the associated stresses it creates, is automatically incapacitated psychologically. In fact, there are more combat veterans without this "malady" than with it. Combat, killing, and death conflict with our perception(s) of how we, and the rest of humanity should act. Additionally, not every service member engages in combat. I'm old enough to remember my uncles, who were WWII combat vets, as well as their numerous buddies. Did they have nightmares? Yep. Did they talk about their experiences? Not very often at all. I was privileged to have leaders and friends who were Vietnam combat veterans. PTSD? Nope, because they put such things behind them. Just like many of us do. Many more than those who don't. Before you jump to conclusions, rant and rave, and demand that this "malady" be recognized as some sort of combat related wound or injury, do the research on how, when, and under what circumstances it came into being. Unless you were treated by a medical officer for an injury sustained while engaged in combat, a Purple Heart is not for you. PTSD is diagnosed for every traumatic incident involving a person, including just witnessing a trauma. I would hope that the underlying motives for this are not VA connected service disability status 3 benefits. Bobm-346250 may not be as insensitive to this as some would have you believe. Do the research.
ok take it you stated you uncless and BLA BLA but did not state you your self are a vet or a combat vet so one can sermise you are a armchair commando like bobm tell a vet with PTSD that he is a fake, a phony,a charlatan if you will and hope he is on his meds if not he will come and take it from you
0311 Marine...Come and Take It doesn't have to be a vet to have an opinion. If you are an "03" (I assume), and if you're like any (and all) of the "03's" I know, then I know you have an opinion on a ton of things for which you yourself have no experience. It's natural, like a fish peeing in water. My opinion on the subject is divided. I myself am a combat veteran and though I don't have PTSD, I believe it is real. But like many wounds there are those that merit a Purple Heart and those (ie. small cuts and scrapes...does a small fragment of glass shattering into your skin count, or how about Elephant Grass cuts?) that don't. The trick will be figuring out who really is wounded and who is looking to cope a cheap and easy way to grab disability bennies.
RT your right I believe the PH should be for wounded Vets i just want PTSD vets to get some respect thats it brother . I do have opinions but was raised if you dont know what your talking about keep your mouth shut . Subjects like this how ever people who are not combat vets should know to keep quiet and leave it to the Docs and people who are combat vets to talk about it .
It's the consenus of most in the Marine Corps do not think The George Medal should be give for PTSD. I get the Marine Corps Gazette and Leatherneck and The Purple Heart for PTSD for the most part was voted down by other Marines.
Being combat wounded 3x and after being evaluated because I volunteered for a third tour and they wanted to make sure I didn't enjoy the job too much. I was cleared .
PTSD seems easy to fake, just keep going to the vet center group meetings long enough and you'll get a disability pension. I've seen it done.
So, my feelings are you should be combat wounded as far as the corps goes.
You guys are a bunch of B.S., all sitting in same outhouse, and telling yourself fables and tales. Tens of thousands of Vietnam Vets have killed themselves by direct action, or indirect drug/alcohol abuse, due to PTSD. My cousin was one who killed himself, and I was one who survived.
I have met more fakers like Colorado, Dog Patch, and Take It, sitting around, drinking their own PTSD away, hiding it, covering it up, and making fun of those who have it. And, by the way, have you ever met a bunch of guys in DENIAL OF THEIR FEELINGS but US Marines. In basic Marine Corps training, they take your feelings and emotions away from you, and train you to be well heeled BABY KILLERS, with no sense of conscience of what you're doing.
By the way, they tried to do that to me in the US Army while Woodstock was going on, and it took for a while, but eventually I realized I was a BABY KILLER, just like anyone else in any military in any country, or terrorist army (like our patriots, led by George Washington, the man the King of England put a death sentence on). The Marines are really good at stripping emotions and sense of feeling away from the people they indoctrinate, so I've heard this often.
On the other hand, I've been in treatment with many US Marines, who I respect, at the VA. I almost joined the Marines at age 17, but my parents wouldn't sign for me. So perhaps that's why I respect them so much.
But the Marines I've been in treatment with have a much harder time admitting their emotions, as they were trained to ignore them in service of the country and the Marine Corps General Officer they were serving. So let me tell you that all of the Vietnam Veteran, US Marines, I've met in treatment at the Department of Veterans Affairs would take you to task for your attitude, and as far as I'm concerned, I'm just too old and angry to even bother with you guys.
Hey. The bar is still open. Not too late to go down and have a drink, start a support group, and tell each other that PTSD is B.S.. Meanwhile, think of my friend, a Nam Vet Marine, who limps after he shot himself in a suicide attempt that he accidentally survived. Maybe you can find some cripples to make fun of on the way, or maybe punch out some gay guys as you walk down the street. Good luck with your bigoted attitude, which may come back to haunt you in some unforeseen way in the future.
Roger Stavitz in Danforth, Maine.
And, oh, by the way, THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, and WELCOME HOME!
As a combat wounded Vietnam Veteran [ March 5th 1969] and a Veteran diagnosed with severe PTSD, I know a lot of cases where PTSD is faked for the award. You can not fake being shot in combat, not taking about self inflicted wounds. Also a Purple Heart is awarded to those who were held as a POW and those who have been diagnosed with a TBI..which is an injury to the brain as it was rattled around being involved with an IED. PTSD is a mental condition not an injury to the body or brain.
What the hell is wrong with these people the purple heart is not for PTSD and should never be awarded for PTSD Damn it these people have never served and will never be put into harms way Hell suffer from PTSD but you won't here me running around crying about it or saying I deserve a purple heart. WTF I just don't understand people like this.
Hey NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO i have PTSD and was in hasrm way every day in Somalia and the gulf i am not asking for PH just asking that people with PTSD for real be given some respect is all i want
As someone who is currently serving in the Army and that works EVERYDAY with veterans and active duty soldiers, sailors and airmen suffering with PTSD, I can personally say that this is a subject that deserves more respect than I see it getting. I work on an inpatient psychiatric ward at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and I see what servicemen and women diagnosed with PTSD go through everyday. For those who are trying to minimalize the illness or call the people diagnosed with it as "wimps" than you have obviously never spent any significant amount of time with someone suffering from it. Invisble wounds are sometimes harder to cope with than the visible ones.
I am a former USMC Staff Sergeant. 1978-1982/MOS-1381. Former U.S. Army 1983-1989/MOS 19D & 11B2V. RETREAD USMC 1989-1998/MOS-0311, 0481/0451. Served first Gulf War with 4th Marines, Somalia Operation Restore Hope, JTF-6. Awarded CAB for actions in the 1st Gulf War w/3 stars, 2 NAVACHm, U.S,. Army ACHV for counter- drug ops, etc., etc., blah, blah & blah. So, yes I am a combat veteran, with a few other incidents as well. After reading your comment to gijill, I can pretty much discount you as a fraud. You've been "suffering" for 20 years? That puts you at 1992. We were done in the Gulf. Somalia was in 1993. No, you are the "armchair commando." Marines do not use that descriptive term. You are exactly the type of person gijill is referring to. Your description of PTSD is textbook. I'll bet you were "Special Forces Ranger Recon Marine" to those who are unfamiliar with the military. There are service members who have a hard time with their experiences IN COMBAT. They do not stay in the service... if it's real. Bottom line here, is that very few people are cut out for the killing part of military service, to the point where they remain in uniform. They are the professionals who make it their business. 90% of the rest do their time and move on. And you are out of your league with this "I can't function in life" because I served. Go away.
take it no in 1991 i was Marine Barraks Subic Bay running patrols near Banictacan we had a few run in with the NPA taking shots at us . I was with BLT 1/9 ( later became BLT 2/1 ) in Somalia Bco Capt Penington was my CO David Ross was my 1stsgt. 2nd Lt. Thomas Savage was my platoon commander we came in on the USS Denver . I was in the MOG that would be how we refered to Mogadishu Somalia we ran convoy ops and small patrolls and we did take some fire and returned some fire . so let me ask you this 1989-1998 USMC 0311 really where did you go to SOI and at what age I was at Camp Pendelton 1995-1999 at SOI as instructor had friends in Alpha-Delta and we never herd of a former army comming threw in his late 20's very early 30's and yes i did serve a short time in the gulf never said Desert storm go back and read again big guy. never staited " cant fuction in life " i have had a small break down to to some mental issues do to PTSD and am now on meds and been going to therapy and seeing a shrink for over 2 years now and doing so so much better and FYI i DO NOT GET A PENNY from Uncle Sam refused money i just wanted help. oh go and read the "20" year part again i stated over 20 get it right big guy please and i did leave the service after 8
I am a veteran of the United States Army military police corps and I would be adamantly opposed to awarding the Purple Heart for PTSD. To my brothers in arms, I sympathize with you regarding the atrocities that you witnessed and totally understand your pain. However, every single soldier, marine, airman, or sailor assigned to serve in a combat zone has some degree of stress that they have to deal with, either directly or indirectly. The campaign ribbon is the symbol of the stress that we have all endured during these times of war. This is not little league baseball, the Purple Heart is not a participation award. It is awarded to those that have given their blood in defense of the flag of the United States of America. Thanks to all the veterans for their service and to the soldiers serving abroad for keeping our country safe.
You're a bunch of B.S., Take It. In my limited treatment at the VA, I have met many retirees who were diagnosed with PTSD.
I was in treatment here in Mane for one year, and in my group was an Army Infantry First Sergeant with 28 years service, and another Army First Sergeant with over 20 years service. Then there was the Air Force E-8 who served in Vietnam and Dessert Storm, and was relieved from duty in the Air Force because he wanted to kill the Major officer who commanded him in Dessert Storm.
In 1972, as a conscripted youngster who enlisted, on my second tour, I WANTED TO KILL A LIFER, but never had plans of killing anyone. I joked with this veteran comrade that he was a LIFER WHO WANTED TO KILL A LIFER, and he got the joke....LOL During the Vietnam War, a lot of unhappy military men, including my friends in the Marine Corps, wanted to KILL A LIFER. LOL You had to be there to understand....LOL
Oh, yeah. Let me not forget the university professor at the University of Maine, who teaches Vietnam War literature, but who also retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army after 20 years service, after serving one tour in Nam in special forces, and the second tour as a province advisor, having the privilege to teach English at West Point while still on active duty. He, also, attended the Bangor VET CENTER and was diagnosed as suffering from combat related PTSD.
So thanks for your service, TAKE IT, but you're like the famous comedian, George Burns, (from Burns and Allen in the 1940s). He smoked like a chimney until his death at age 100, and he was funny to boot. YOU'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY, MY MAN, in that you can tell jokes, deride, and
minimalize those who have PTSD, while you continue smoking your same brand of cigarettes.
0311,
Who were you with in Somalia? Where were you at in country? I was there from the very first day.
Come and Take it...you an Airborne Ranger...no stranger to danger?
GTFO! Nonsense!
What a man I mean what a lady ..GTFO it yourself you tranny crossdresser... you are talking out of your a$$... If you were not there then F off...