Purple Heart

[Salty]

Should the Purple Heart have three separate award categories:
Gold: for sacrificing one’s life in combat against an enemy. Presented to the next-of-kin.
Silver: for receiving a combat wound, amputation or major injury while engaged against an enemy of the United States that requires hospitalization.
Bronze: minor wounds while serving in combat that does not require hospitalization, but does require a doctor/medic/aide treatment.

 

[Revmitchell]

no

 

[Salty]

Actually, I agree with the OP.
There should be a distinction between major wounds and minor ones.
Granted -where do we draw the line between the two might -

 

[Squire Robertsson]

No.

 

[Adonia]

John Kerry got 3 Purple Hearts and from what I have heard about them they were definitely in a special category of their own.

 

[Adonia]

Should the Purple Heart have three separate award categories:
Gold: for sacrificing one’s life in combat against an enemy. Presented to the next-of-kin.
Silver: for receiving a combat wound, amputation or major injury while engaged against an enemy of the United States that requires hospitalization.
Bronze: minor wounds while serving in combat that does not require hospitalization, but does require a doctor/medic/aide treatment.

You know, I think you just might be on to something here. As it stands now, the guy who loses two legs and an arm gets the same award as the guy who has his pinky finger shot off. Both are combat wounded, but one man has definitely been wounded much worse.

In the German Army of WW2 there were different grades for some awards, so what you are proposing is not without precedent in the military universe.

 

[Salty]

Actually, it was not my proposal - saw it on some other military site.

 

[Adonia]

Actually, it was not my proposal - saw it on some other military site.

Well regardless, I think it has merit. I had not heard of it and thank you for bringing it to our attention.

 

[Tom Bryant]

No, I don't think there should be different classes. I've known men who refused Purple Hearts because the wounds they received were minor.

Personally, I'm not sure that what the Nazi German army did in WW II is a good precedent to follow.

 

[Use of Time]

You know, I think you just might be on to something here. As it stands now, the guy who loses two legs and an arm gets the same award as the guy who has his pinky finger shot off. Both are combat wounded, but one man has definitely been wounded much worse.

In the German Army of WW2 there were different grades for some awards, so what you are proposing is not without precedent in the military universe.

No. It isn’t a competition.

 

[Adonia]

No, I don't think there should be different classes. I've known men who refused Purple Hearts because the wounds they received were minor.

Personally, I'm not sure that what the Nazi German army did in WW II is a good precedent to follow.

Well, we followed their precedent of using rocket powered missiles, even using the Nazi scientists we brought here after the war. Does the name Werner Von Braun ring a bell?

 

[Squire Robertsson]

The German Army's, use of various classes of awards predates the rise of Hitler and his thugs.

Personally, I'm not sure that what the Nazi German army did in WW II is a good precedent to follow.

 

[Salty]

No. It isn’t a competition.

I agree it is not a competition- but those who experience major medical problems should be properly recognized.

 

[Use of Time]

I agree it is not a competition- but those who experience major medical problems should be properly recognized.

A Purple Heart is sufficient recognition.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Well, we followed their precedent of using rocket powered missiles, even using the Nazi scientists we brought here after the war. Does the name Werner Von Braun ring a bell?

Yes, they are, but using technology is a bit different from the various classes of injuries.

We really don't have those classes In the other medals. There are different medals depending upon the act such as bronze star, silver star and medal of honor.

I would disagree with using the classes because often the only difference is that of a bullet or fragment entering 1 inch in either direction.