This has got to be one of the most obscene ideas in recent memory. I can't even begin to express how disgusting such an idea is.

I dont think this would be a good idea, but they could start a new line of awards for PTSS, lets say Pink Heart.

I have to concur... Obscene may be too harsh a word... but this is a horrible idea... how about... instead of a medal... they get good health care instead?

Quote: "Can psychological traumas, no matter how debilitating, be considered equivalent to dismembering physical wounds?"

How can we think otherwise? Why on earth would an insult that causes recurring nightmares, spoiled marriages, ruined relationships with their children, insomnia, depression and abuse NOT be considered equivalent to physical trauma? Because there's no bleeding it doesn't count? What is the justification?

The purple heart is a comendation for being "wounded" in battle... as in physical damage...

I'm not opposed to a medal for those traumatized mentally due to battle, I dont know how thats supposed to help, but I'm not opposed to it...

HOWEVER... the Purple Heart shouldn't be a consideration...

The justification is that you can get psychological trauma without putting your life in danger and its near impossible to tell one way or the other. The Purple Heart was meant to honor those who risked death and paid the price.

There are certainly idiots with Purple Hearts who didn't deserve them *cough* Kerry *cough* but the flaws in the system shouldn't be a basis for watering said system down.

Show me a way to discern between the wimps who were scared to leave the s**tter on base and the soldiers who suffered serious mental anguish in battle and I'll be behind you all the way.

not to mention the wimps who fake having PTSD.

I was glad to see the majority of the responses are "No"..that'd be my answer as well.

They ALL deserve medals for the sh*t they dealt with, but just because some of them can handle it and some can't doesn't mean the one who can't get medals.

I'm not saying PTSD isn't bad, I'm just saying it can be faked, abused, effects some different than others and somebody with it doesn't deserve a medal any more than ANY OTHER soldier who is put in combat.

Like Shep said...get them help, not a medal.

Uh, no. This is a stupid idea. Even more stupid than when they changed the uniform headgear to black berets.

All they did with that one was devalue the honor of earning a black beret and therby make the beret meaningless.

They should just give a participation award then.

Giving them money for everything they need should be first thing on the agenda.

I could agree to the creation of a different medal. I'm not too concerned about fakers - professionals can sort those folks out pretty readily. And having to do so might just force the military to provide screening & treatment. The neglect of PTSD and its adverse consequences is shameful in our military.