Purple Heart For PTSD Veterans Debate Surfaces Again

For the last 34 years, over half my life, this has been my life. It is a place of my choosing since I did not go into the military. I was born into it. My Dad was a Korean War veteran and when I fell in love with a Vietnam veteran, I married into it. Felt natural to me back then since it was all I knew growing up with my uncles, all WWII veterans. What was not so familiar was the term "shell shock" older veteran used to explain what war does to some. It was known to have changed lives forever in one way or another. In our case it was the worst way for a while but after all these years, we are still together.

When I hear some say that veterans with PTSD do not deserve a Purple Heart, I can only conclude they simply do not even understand what the term actually means.

Post=After, Trauma=Wound, Stress=State of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances and Disorder=Out of order. 

In other words, things happened while your life was on the line and you got wounded to the point where your mind and body were stressed out and then everything got jumbled up.

Here's the thing though they don't tell you. After it, wounds heal and stress eases up with help and then things can be put back into some kind of order. Just like with everything else, not the same order they were in before, but differently. Just like you are not the cause of what war did to you and was out of your control, what you do afterwards is in your control.

It is a wound caused by an outside force that penetrated your skin and you can still feel the heat while your body was pushed to the limits of humanity. You can still smell the same things you had to suffer with back then, like diesel fuel. You can still hear the same sounds like machine guns, cannons and helicopters along with screams and dying breathes.

You can still remember every decision you ever made and still argue between what you knew in that millisecond of time and what you know now.

The trick is understanding that it is a wound and left untreated it spreads out to every other part of your life like and infection destroying whatever it comes into contact with until you fight back with everything your body needs to defeat it.

“Real men despise battle, but will never run from it.” ― George Washington

There should be no stigma attached to this at all and there will not be as soon as all of you understand exactly what it is and finally accept the fact that you would not have it IF YOU DID NOT PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE BEING WILLING TO DIE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

Civilians get PTSD but it is a totally different type and the only reason they know what it is, is because veterans came back and fought for all the research. Keep fighting!

I’ve treated veterans with PTSD. It’s time to make them eligible for the Purple Heart.
Washington Post
By Nathaniel P. Morris
July 22, 2016

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, PTSD afflicts up to one in five veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in a given year, and as many as one in three veterans from earlier conflicts like Vietnam during their lifetime. As of 2013, roughly 400,000 veterans affiliated with the VA carried this diagnosis.

Over the last decade, a controversial question has surrounded the Purple Heart: do veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder deserve it?

The Pentagon currently does not award Purple Hearts to veterans suffering from PTSD. Supporters of this policy argue physical wounds have always determined eligibility for the Purple Heart. Some believe the science regarding PTSD is too primitive; indeed symptoms can be difficult to diagnose, and objective tests remain elusive. There are concerns that some veterans might attempt to fake the diagnosis.

But critics say that denying Purple Hearts to these veterans reinforces the stigmatization of mental illness—in other words, that conditions of the mind are less real than conditions of the body. As a physician who has worked with veterans suffering from PTSD, I can tell you the manifestations of this condition are very real. Symptoms can include flashbacks, paralyzing anxiety, hypervigilance, and self-harm.
read more here

Should Military Consider PTSD Worth a Purple Heart?

Bullets rip through skin. Bombs cut off limbs. These wounds, wounds producing loss of blood are obvious. They can be seen. The wounded are cared for because everyone understands this human body was just hurt. Yet when because bullets ripped through skin and bombs blew up friends, no one seems to be willing to allow the same kind of understanding that this body was hurt as well.

After all, isn't the mind part of the body? While we understand that a solider losing his legs will usually require mental health help, we cannot bring ourselves to understand that this one wound can, and usually does, lead to another wound.

While it is understandable some will argue against the Purple Heart being awarded for unseen wounds like PTSD and TBI, there can be no argument these wounds were caused by service as well as physical wounds. If a brain bleeds because head trauma caused it, do they get a Purple Heart? What is wrong with acknowledging the wound when the soul bleeds? What is wrong when the concussion force wounds the brain just as it wounds the body?

Military May Consider PTSD Worth a Purple Heart

With an increasing number of troops being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the military might consider awarding one of the nation's top military citations to veterans with psychological wounds and not just physical ones.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates offered cautious support for such a change on a trip to a military base in Texas this month. "It's an interesting idea," Mr. Gates said in response to a question. "I think it is clearly something that needs to be looked at."

The Pentagon says it isn't formally considering a change in policy at this point, but Mr. Gates's comments sparked a heated debate which says, can psychological traumas, no matter how debilitating, be considered equivalent to dismembering physical wounds?

Supporters of awarding the Purple Heart to veterans with PTSD believe the move would reduce the stigma that surrounds the disorder and spur more soldiers and Marines to seek help without fear of limiting their careers.

"These guys have paid at least as high a price, some of them, as anybody with a traumatic brain injury, as anybody with a shrapnel wound," John Fortunato, who runs a military PTSD treatment facility in Texas, told reporters recently. Absent a policy change, Dr. Fortunato told reporters, troops will mistakenly believe that PTSD is a "wound that isn't worthy."

Military historians believe that the syndrome now known as PTSD -- usually characterized by nightmares, sleeplessness and anxiety and for some, eventually suicide. Vets lose marriages over PTSD, become addicted to drugs and alcohol, suffer from depression, and some eventually take their own lives due to the torment.

Today, PTSD is emerging as one of the signature problems of the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which lack clear front lines and pit U.S. forces against enemies who operate out of densely packed civilian areas.
read more here
Military May Consider PTSD Worth a Purple Heart

Tyler Boudreau: Troubled minds and Purple Hearts

A member of NAMI designed a pin for PTSD veterans. The other day, I posted how it would be great if someone could come up with an award instead of the Purple Heart for PTSD wounded. I believe this is a good start. I also believe that if the military really wants to get rid of the stigma of PTSD, they should honor it as well as honoring all the wounded no matter if you can see the wound or not.

Max Gabriel designed one. I'll post it as soon as I have permission to post the picture of it.

Tyler Boudreau: Troubled minds and Purple Hearts
Dallas Morning News - Dallas,TX,USA
04:18 PM CST on Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Pentagon's recent decision not to award the Purple Heart to veterans and soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress has caused great controversy. Historically, the medal has gone only to those who have been physically wounded on the battlefield as a result of enemy action. But with approximately one-third of veterans dealing with symptoms of combat stress or major depression, many Americans are disappointed with the Pentagon's decision; many more are downright appalled.



As a former Marine infantry officer and Iraq war veteran, I would urge the Pentagon to consider a different solution altogether.

When I was in Iraq, the most common wound behind the many Purple Hearts we awarded was the "perforated eardrum," an eardrum punctured by the concussion of a nearby explosion. In the vast majority of cases, no blood was ever shed. Seldom did these Marines ever miss a day of full duty. And yet they were all awarded the coveted medal.

A year later, back at Camp Lejeune, N.C., I was making calls to the families of wounded Marines – a difficult duty even when the wounds are minor. But I noticed during that time that I never once made a call to a family about a Marine's psychological wounds. I never got a casualty report for post-traumatic stress, despite the rising number of veteran suicides. Never once.

Why, I asked myself, if a combat wound is a combat wound no matter how small, shouldn't those people suffering from the "invisible wounds" of post-traumatic stress also receive the Purple Heart? Difficulty of diagnosis is one of the central justifications the Pentagon has given, citing the concern that fakers will tarnish the medal's image. Spilt blood cannot be faked.

But this seems an unconvincing argument not to honor those who actually do suffer from post-traumatic stress. For example, the possibility of fakers has not prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from awarding disability payments to service members who have received a diagnosis. Why should the military itself be different? click link for more

When is a wound, not a wound? When it's PTSD.

by
Chaplain Kathie
I have to admit I'm going back and forth on this. Originally I thought it was a bad idea because of exactly what happened when veterans began discussing this. Then I thought, well the term itself means wound, so it should qualify. Trauma is Greek for wound. The original award was the Badge of Merit, issued by General George Washington. It was adopted into what we now know as the Purple Heart.
Now I believe that giving the Purple Heart to PTSD wounded is not the right answer. It would not be the right answer for Traumatic Brain Injury either. Far from it. Wounds to the body can heal even though they leave scars behind. The military does not separate a graze wound from a bullet to losing a limb. They get the same award. No one wants to take away any honor for the physically wounded but the invisibly wounded should not be ignored any longer especially when these two wounds change the lives of the wounded forever along with their families.
I am back to where I was in the beginning of this, to the Wound Chevron.
There should be a different award for these two wounds. This is how the Purple Heart started out.

From The Badge of Merit to The Purple Heart


The Badge of Military Merit circa 1782 New Windsor Cantonment is the site of the final encampment of America's first army at the close of our country's War of Independence.

To honor the service of his troops, General George Washington chose a select few of his troops to receive a small purple cloth Badge of Merit, the precursor to the Purple Heart award. One of three known Badges of Military Merit, the only documented surviving example, is on exhibit here.

So it is natural that this significant historic site was selected to be the home of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. In 1932 the new Purple Heart medal was presented to 138 veterans of World War I on these same historic grounds.

The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration still in use and was the first to honor the common soldier. It was initially created as the Badge of Military Merit by the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington. A leader who understood the importance of the individual soldier, Washington vowed "to make it the most agreeable part of [his] duty to study merit, and reward the brave and deserving." His appreciation for the common soldier impelled him to recognize outstanding valor and merit by granting a commission or an advance in rank to deserving individuals. However, towards the end of the Revolutionary War, he was ordered by the Continental Congress to cease doing so because of the lack of available funds.

Deprived of his usual means of reward, Washington devised a substitute. In his General Orders of August 7, 1782, Washington declared that, "whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or binding." This document would be lost, as would the dramatic accounts of three soldiers from the New Windsor Cantonment who received the decoration. The Book of Merit has not been found, and the Badge of Merit fell out of use after the Revolutionary War. But, the need to create a military decoration that honored the common soldier remained.

I strongly believe that if these wounds are to be honored, then they need to be treated as a wound. PTSD and TBI are injuries caused by service to the nation. They need to come up with a separate award to honor these invisible wounds. The only way to remove the stigma, to erase the "shame" brought on by ignorance of the fact these wounds have nothing to do with courage, patriotism or anything other than being wounded, is to honor them.

I've seen enough images of what people can come up with when they put their minds to work. I'm sure someone could come up with an award to honor the men and women that have been wounded in the line of duty.

No Purple Heart for PTSD? Then give them something else.

Aside from the DOD being clueless what Washington's original medal was about, which had nothing to do with being wounded, they should at least come up with something else. They need to stop acting as if PTSD is anything to be ashamed of. The title itself means "wound" by the word "trauma" which is Greek for wound.

There was an award called the Wound Chevron.

Wound Chevron
A Wound Chevron was a badge of the United States Army which was authorized for wear on an Army uniform between the years of 1918 and 1932. The Wound Chevron was displayed on the lower right cuff of a military uniform, and denoted wounds which were received in combat against an enemy force. The Wound Chevron was a replacement insignia for the short lived Army Wound Ribbon.

In 1932, with the creation of the Purple Heart, Wound Chevrons were no longer awarded to Army personnel. A directive of the United States War Department permitted soldiers to exchange wound chevrons for the new Purple Heart medal. This was not required, however, and some Army personnel elected to retain wound chevrons for wear on the military uniform instead of the Purple Heart. For those who were subsequently wounded in the Second World War, both the original wound chevrons and the Purple Heart medal were worn simultaneously. It is historically agreed that Army regulations did not permit wearing both the Purple Heart and the Wound Chevron at the same time; however, photographic evidence indicates that this was often done by veterans of both the First World War and Second World War.

If they really want PTSD to be seen for what it is, then they should stop treating it like a sub-class wound that is less honorable than other wounds. Just because it does not break the skin that does not mean it was not caused by the enemy. Combat is inflicting the most harm on the enemy as possible. This wound cuts them so deeply many would rather have lost a limb instead. Since the DOD does not sub-classify a graze instead of an entry wound, they should treat all wounds equally. I've posted on this before and I'm more convinced than ever they need to actually honor this wound as a wound if they really want to get rid of the stigma.

No Purple Hearts for PTSD, Pentagon rules

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 6, 2009 12:31:49 EST

The Purple Heart will not be awarded to service members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the Pentagon confirmed Monday.

“It’s not a qualifying Purple Heart wound,” said Defense Department spokeswoman Eileen Lainez, although she added that “advancements in medical science may support future re-evaluation.”

The decision, reached Nov. 3 but not made public until now, followed months of evaluation by military and outside officials. That evaluation was spurred when Defense Secretary Robert Gates was asked at a May press conference whether he would support awarding the Purple Heart to PTSD sufferers.

Gates said the idea was “clearly something that needs to be looked at.” His undersecretary for personnel and readiness, David S.C. Chu, decided against making such awards after conferring with the Pentagon’s Awards Advisory Group, which includes “awards experts” from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the military services, the Institute of Heraldry and the Center for Military History, according to Lainez.

Gates concurred with that decision, Lainez said.

The decision was first reported Monday by the Stars and Stripes newspaper.

The Purple Heart “recognizes those individuals wounded to a degree that requires treatment by a medical officer, in action with the enemy or as the result of enemy action where the intended effect of a specific enemy action is to kill or injure the service member,” Lainez said.

PTSD “is not a wound intentionally caused by the enemy from an outside force or agent, but is a secondary effect caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event,” she said.

Support for Purple Heart award for wound of PTSD

If you support the fact that PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of, if you are aware enough to understand that PTSD is a wound, please go to the following link and post it. I just did.

http://www.purpleheartforptsd.org/profile/PeterSGriffin

Comment by Chaplain Kathie Costos just now
I am a certified, ordained, licensed and insured Senior Chaplain with the International Fellowship of Chaplains. I am on the NAMI Veteran's Council as well as holding membership in several organizations. I've been working with veterans focusing on PTSD for over 25 years and have researched it extensively as if my life depended on it, simply because it does. My husband is a Vietnam Vet with PTSD. I have a blog, web site, an online book and have done several videos on PTSD. There is not much I do not know about PTSD, so please consider where this is coming from.

I fully support the Purple Heart for PTSD as well as TBI. TBI comes from a traumatic jolt like a bomb blast as well as accidents. If they were in the combat arena, whatever they came into contact with causing TBI should be considered a wound. We cannot forget that the brain is in fact part of the body.

As for PTSD, the term itself was not chosen by accident and has been used since the 70's contrary to the popular belief they did not begin to study it until the 80's. While it is true the VA did not acknowledge it until then, it took many years of researchers and veterans fighting the VA to get it acknowledged. Publications of studies were printed all through the 70's. The term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was chosen very carefully. Trauma is Greek for wound. It sets off changes in the body as well as chemicals in the brain. None of this is new but has finally made it into the mainstream media reports. Brain scans have managed to prove all that comes with PTSD.

It is a normal reaction to abnormal events. It has been documented since the beginning of time under many different titles but can even be found in the Bible as well as in ancient Greek and Roman documents.

The Purple Heart, commissioned by General George Washington, was not created as a wound medal, but was to acknowledge the "grunt" of the day in the Revolutionary War. It was then adapted to acknowledge being wounded in combat. The term PTSD is "after wound" thus qualifying it for the award. While the military does not issue different Purple Hearts for gravities of wounds, awarding it for a bullet graze as well as a limb lost, there are some in this country who believe PTSD is a wound to a lesser degree and not worthy of an award that provides nothing more than the acknowledgement this wound is carried by those who have faced the enemy and paid the price for it.

Many who have visible physical wounds, also carry this wound within them. While the scar on their body is honored with the Purple Heart, the scar inside of them is disregarded, yet this wound is what does effect their entire life for the rest of their life and also the lives of their families. Financially PTSD is already compensated because the VA acknowledges it as caused by service thus awarding a "service connected disability" rating. The benefit of awarding the Purple Heart for PTSD is to remove the notion PTSD is a wound of an unworthy degree, something that is seen as something "wrong with them" and plays into the uneducated, uninformed viewpoint that PTSD is some kind of flaw within the veteran.

PTSD is a wound and not a flaw. It has nothing to do with character, bravery, patriotism, political party or gender. It has to do with being human exposed to the traumatic events in combat. If anything PTSD is a wound to a greater degree, not a lesser one. We need to wonder why anyone would want to dishonor the veterans carrying this battle born wound, ask what their motive is when they fight so hard to prevent their brothers and sisters from being honored for their service and for the wound they received in doing so. They only people against this, from all I've read, are still denying what PTSD is and what the Purple Heart has stood for.

When this was first made public, I told my husband about it. He was stunned and said, "Wow we've come a long way since Nam" and that came from someone who almost died because of his service and the wound he carries within him. His nephew was not as lucky. He took his own life along with far too many others.

links to some of the posts I've done on the Purple Heart for PTSD


http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/05/to-deny-purple-heart-for-ptsd-is-wrong.html

http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-are-wounds-of-war.html

http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/05/group-says-ptsd-doesnt-merit-purple.html

http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/05/us-must-battle-against-stigma-of-mental.html

http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/05/time-to-reclassify-ptsd-as-wound.html

http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/05/ptsd-how-many-are-worthy-of-grave.html

http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/05/troops-with-ptsd-could-merit-purple.html

http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/06/thomas-lipscomb-wrong-on-ptsd-attitude.html

http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2008/06/getting-rid-of-spin-on-purple-heart.html


Peter Griffin takes all of this very seriously. Do you? How do you feel about honoring this wound the same way all other wounds are honored?