crashresidue,
One of my teachers in high school had a story like that where they wanted to give him purple heart for an injury received (tripping over a fence and eating it on #3 grade rock) while running buck naked across the base, in the pitch black dark that night, during a mortar attack. It was a lot funnier to hear him tell it.
He was a funny guy. Lanny Lancaster.
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Anywho. I have no "dog in the hunt" per se other than my family has served in every major conflict the U.S. has engaged in. Here is a blog from another soldier's viewpoint:
http://www.soldiersperspective.us/2008/05/14/purple-heart-for-ptsd/The only way I could see a Purple Heart being awarded for PTSD is if the disorder was 100% disabling. It would give an amount of respect to the soldier who would have none left and explain how serious his particular sitation is. But then that potentially opens the door to a host of other problems as to who should be awarded, I would assume.
Those are a couple of thoughts I had on the subject. Not that they carry any water compared with the Vets posting here.
BTW-
Thanks for your service guys! Hell. I wouldn't even have been born if it weren't for the events which unfolded during and after WWII. Knowing and understanding my family's story and how my Grandfather's generation sacrificed so much in relation to WWII helps put what current families are going through with the current conflict. It can be really hard on you guys. My hat's off to you.
I also appreciate the fact, as per the bumper sticker, that I am not writing this in German, Japanese, Spanish, or any other language.