Does PTSD Warrant a Purple Heart?
Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 10:26AM Should soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) be awarded the Purple Heart? That is the question being considered by the Department of Defense. The Purple Heart is awarded “to those Combat Wounded men and women, who as Members of the Armed Forces, shed blood by an instrument of war in the hands of an enemy of the United States of America.” Post Traumatic Stress Disorder refers to an anxiety disorder that can occur after someone has been through a traumatic event.
This reminds me of former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki announcing that the entire Army would go from wearing caps to black berets in late 2000. The problem was that black berets were worn by Army Rangers, and maroon berets by the Airborne, as a distinguishing mark for those serving in elite combat troops. Shinseki’s well meaning attempt to make all soldiers equal denigrated the extraordinary nature of the soldier who volunteered for the very difficult and demanding task of being a Ranger or parachutist diminished their sacrifices.
The effort to award the Purple Heart to soldiers with PTSD is as well-meaning as the dummying down of the beret but as ill-conceived. Physical wounds sustained in combat change the soldier’s abilities for the rest of his life. Purple Heart recipients are an elite group like the Rangers, Special Forces or paratroopers. The soldier with PTSD still has use of his faculties and a stroll through Walter Reed quickly distinguishes between physical and mental wounds.
There’s no doubt more needs to be done to help soldiers with PTSD. The stigma attached to it should be ended and the military community from the DOD to the family level should circle around these brave warriors and offer them the acceptance and support they need and deserve, but at the end of the day the soldier who carries physical wounds deserves different recognition from those who carry mental and emotional ones.
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Reader Comments (18)
Regarding ThinkingMeat's trackback, I never said soldies with PTSD should suck it up. I said it falls into a different category than that of a physical wound. I think most soldiers with PTSD would be embarrassed to receive a Purple Heart. In the video, the ones with PTSD said they didn't want a Purple Heart.
It's a nice idea, but it is a qualitatively different injury.
Check out Marine Merlin German, a burn victim who died last month.
Watch this video, meatbrain, of these soldiers at Merlin German's funeral.
Now tell me that his Purple Heart should be also awarded to a PTSD sufferer. I am not in any way denegrating the injury of PTSD. I am saying every honor has its place and the Purple Heart should be reserved for physical injury as it has been throughout its history.
well meaning but no, instead gove them the support they want or need.
I'm on the fence on this question. The regs specifically state that PTSD is not a PH injury, but those same regs say "A wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required, however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record." (http://www.americal.org/awards/ph.htm)
Many PTSD injured are the result of EID explosions the injury of which manifests at a later date and can no longer be definitively traced to the incident of hostile violence. The Israelis know very well what an explosion shock wave can do to the internal organs, including the brain. They call the effects jello because that is the consistancy of the body tissue so injured.
I don't think we have a firm grasp of what PTSD is exactly. We know that it involves the brain and mind in the sense that the brian is the originator and repository of thoughts, but are thoughts themselves part of the body as defined by the military regs vis a vis combat wounds?
I know this is an esoteric question, but with our improved knowledge of the human body and philosophical/moral arguments involving the right to life and right to die as exposed by Schiavo and Roe, I believe the Purple Heart/PTSD question should get more attention and a lot of hard thought.
What I do know is that most PTSD victims were harmed as the result of combat experiences. I know that John Kerry was awarded three Purple Hearts, two of which were for self-inflicted wounds. It doesn't seem right that a bona fide hero with PTSD is not recognized, but the likes of John Kerry is.
While I agree to some extent that the Purple Heart may not be best for those with PTSD; your wording is what is going to cause problems. The comparing PTSD to the beret stuff is laughable at best. Our military health care system needs help. Plus the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen need to be told constantly and sincerely that seeing someone will not hurt their career. PTSD is a serious problem and suicides of service members are up. Worry about and care for the person first and then worry about what's on their award rack. PTSD will have an affect on them long after their service is over another medal won't matter on bit.
No...!
I agree that its a tough issue to address. To say a soldier suffering from PTSD shouldn't receive the Purple Heart sounds like his injury is minimized by those who say it. The pain and injury of PTSD is just as real and often lifelong as a physical injury.
However, I can't think of any soldiers with PTSD who would want a medal for it. Getting an award for having a disorder isn't what military awards are about. It changes the meaning of the Purple Heart.
I think PTSD sufferers should receive specialized treatment, have an extra 15-30 days of leave upon diagnosis and so on, but an award?
As for the beret analogy, I see why it would look like I was being flippant. We personally know what the pain of PTSD is like, although not the severe disorder as in the video, but I understand how grave it is. My point is that in order to make everyone feel deserving, everyone received berets that the elite units wore. It messed with morale. I posted a link to a soldier who had severe burns from an IED. He died last month. How would he or any other physical injury victim feel to share a Purple Heart honor with someone who can leave the room, doesn't need wheel chair confinement? I don't think it elevates too high the person with PTSD, it waters down the physical sacrifice of the true Purple Heart recipients.
There can be another recognition for PTSD sufferers, but I can garauntee they won't want to wear a medal on their uniforms for it.
I have thought about this question and listened to Soldiers and Marines tell their PTSD stories. I believe it is a real wound deserving of due recognition, however, those with PTSD would rather not be awarded a medal. I understand that. Their injury is of a more personal nature that many would prefer not advertising. Being a cripple myself and having gone throgh awkward moments, I fully appreciate their reticence.
For me though, the arguement turned on another arguement. Years ago, I had a roommate who said he was a VietNam War Veteran. Well, he wasn't exactly. He was a Navy meterologist at Point Mugu, California. He was at most a VietNam ERA Veteran. His claim lent a status he did not have and it cheapened those men and women who did serve in country.
My father was a Navy Vet of the WWII Pacific Theater, saw combat, killed men who were trrying to kill him. His younger brother served in the Army guarding a base in Texas. The family treated the brother as the hero for fifty years after the war until Dad began attending reunions and introducng his crewmates to the his family.
The Purple Heart has a special place for the wounded. It delineates those whose lives were directly and immediately at risk. Combat and the possibility of taking a human life and being killed is perhaps the most diffficult thing a person can do. Those who are wounded performing that horrible task should not have the award lessened by another who has reached their own stress level as harrowing as that may have been.
Purple Hearts are for the physically wounded only.
Thank you for the question, Amy. It was not an easy one.
I completely agree, Amy. The PHM is one of the most cherished and recognized awards for a combat soldier and rightly so. A soldier suffering from PTSD alone does not qualify and I see no reason to change that. We must, however, do everything possible to help heal these amazing young men and women that are sacrificing so much for this nation and our people. And sadly, our government is failing in this duty.
Well said! In fact there are too many "physical wounds" that qualify.
Let me understand you point. Soldiers with PTSD are faking it and the doctors who diagnose it are incompetent? Your statement, "This reminds me of former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki announcing that the entire Army would go from wearing caps to black berets in late 2000.", leads me to believe this. How long were you in the Army? What awards did you receive? How long do you believe that PTSD may last in a person's lifetime? Do you believe that it hurts a Soldier more if they are hurt physically? Do you have PTSD from a Military experience?
Last question, do you have and input or "say-so" in the decision making process in this matter?
Nick, you completely misunderstand me. I never insinuated nor do I believe that soldiers with PTSD are faking it or that the doctors are incompetent.
Both my husband and I suffer(ed) from PTSD during his Iraq deployment in 2003 and it is easily triggered by various conditions. I wouldn't call his or mine severe, but it can be overwhelming.
We are all too familiar with PTSD and have great symapthy for soldiers who serve and return with this traumatic disorder. The discussion, and it is a legitmate one at the highest levels at the DOD, is its worthiness to receive a Purple Heart. PTSD doesn't fall into that category. I also know the overwhelming majority of soldiers don't want a Purple Heart for their PTSD wounds. They are too humble to wish to be put into that category and understand it isn't a physical wound, which is what the PH is for.
My husband received the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his time in combat, but that's irrelevent. His PTSD didn't stem from combat but are actually a branch of some severe childhood trauma he endured.
Most civilians who want soldies with PTSD to receive the Purple Heart don't understand what the PH is for and are attempting to honor soldiers who suffer PTSD, but this isn't the right avenue for their recognition.
I also believe the moral equivilency argument is misguided. They are two distinctly separate types of wounds, both devastating in their own right.
Compelling reasons why the Purple Heart Medal should be awarded to those brave warriors suffering from "POST COMBAT STRESS DISORDER" ASAP are posted at Griffin's Lair, http://www.grifslair.com Visit today, thanks, Grif.
I disagree that those with PTSD still have their faculties. Someone who has lost both arms in service may not be able to pick up his child. Someone who saw a pile of dead children's bodies placed before him as a warning that the "bad guys" don't appreciate his attempt to deliver rice during a humanitarian mission might not be able to hold his own children, either, even though he still has the use of both arms.
I don't the the Purple Heart is appropriate, but I do think something different, but equivalent, is appropriate.
Speaking as the wife of a retired Marine who's husband's PTSD continues to affect our marriage, our family, or children and every aspect of our life three years post-retirement.
I understand your position, but would your husband want a Purple Heart for his PTSD? I think most soldiers don't; it's well-meaning legislators who seem to be the ones who think this is a good idea. The Purple Heart has always been a symbol of physical wounds in combat. I dont' think it should be compromised but that doesn't mean those with PTSD shouldn't receive help.
Do you really think they want an award, though? My husband had a mild form of PTSD (it wasn't a dramatic case and he's dealing with it well) and he wouldn't want an award.
I received a gunshot wound to the leg and severe PTSD. I can tell you that the PTSD is far worse than the leg. I took ten weeks to get over the leg, and ten years to get over the PTSD. Also, let me say that I didn't have any expectation of reward, and I still don't. I don't have a Purple Heart, no one ever said thank you, and I had to pay for all my own treatment. And, I would do it all again. Spend your money on banks and auto makers - we've got this one covered. ;)
PS - Unless you were wounded, or have PTSD, you need to shut up.
Doug, I think most soldiers feel the same way you do. Did you serve in Vietnam?
Most soldiers don't want a Purple Heart for PTSD and its mostly lawmakers who suggest it. My husband had mild to moderate PTSD after Operation Iraqi Freedom I and he also wouldn't think he deserved a Purple Heart.
What do you think of PTSD and physical wounds both receiving a Purple Heart?
I think it's an embarrassment that you had to pay for your own treatment. Anyone can see by today's standards that we can afford to take care of our soldiers. Look at all the billions we're spending on the housing, lending and auto industries.
THANK YOU for your service, Doug.