Posted on Mar 20, 2014
SPC Michael Hunt
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Do Soldiers that develope mental health issues due to combat stressors deserve consideration to receive the Purple Heart?
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1SG Infantry Senior Sergeant
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Edited >1 y ago
<font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">I will just say this I have Purple Hearts and also have PTSD
that I am being treated for. Do I think someone should receive it for combat injures
yes for non physical injuries no. Let me just reiterate I have BOTH and I don’t
think you should get one for PTSD because of the fact that someone that has
never been shot at nor been under attack can develop PTSD and the PH is
reserved for Combat injuries!!! Should it be recognized Yes with VA benefits
not a Medal!!! </font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">

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SPC Michael Hunt
SPC Michael Hunt
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Thanks 1SG!
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1SG Infantry Senior Sergeant
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I will tomorrow but for now her are the pictures of LT Gen Helmick presenting it to me.
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1SG Infantry Senior Sergeant
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SPC PK,<div>The actual wright up is pages long but here is one of the awards.</div>
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SPC Michael Hunt
SPC Michael Hunt
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Thanks for your service and welcome home Top!
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SSG Jason Hoadley
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Edited >1 y ago

With Reduction in Force plainly written on the wall....

I think highlighting those with PTSD would be an easy way for the DOD to find people to cut..

PTSD should not be a badge or medal, it is a medical condition... 

And should be treated as such, with the HIPPA laws protecting it

 

If it is decided that there is an award of some form for PTSD, it should only be awarded at either the SM's ETS or Retirement.. .

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SPC Michael Hunt
SPC Michael Hunt
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That makes sense... thanks for your service Seargent.
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SFC Communications Chief (S6)
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Can not PTSD have physical manifestations? Have you ever known someone to turn down a Purple heart due to potential Hippa and Privacy Act violation? A Purple Heart recognizes sacrifice in combat.  Unless you're privy to the original write-up it would be up to the awardee to fill you in on he events leading up their award. In other words: you can't violate your own privacy.
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1SG Infantry Senior Sergeant
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Jordan you saved our ass in A-Stan 05 during an ambush. To this day we still talk about what you did for us and We all have bad memories of that event but do those memories deserve a PH? I do think it is both an illness and an injury, but those of us with it will be taken care of when we get out but only if you have it and get help for it will VA compensate you for it. As a 1SG in the us Army I see Soliders with PTSD all the time and though you tell them to go get help 95% will not. So again I'll say I have both and I do not expect to receive a PH for my PTSD.
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SPC Michael Hunt
SPC Michael Hunt
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I don't expect to see one, I would not turn it down. The VA has taken great care of me... almost like a blank check. That's enough validation.
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SFC Robert Trodahl
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Not as it is written now, but dare I say it.............we would need a new medal (cringe)
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1SG Infantry Senior Sergeant
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Combat Action Badge

Awarded by United States Army

Eligibility Serving with a U.S. Army Unit

Awarded for Active engagement or being engaged by the enemy after September 18, 2001

Status Currently awarded

Statistics
Established May 2, 2005
First awarded June 29, 2005
Last awarded On going

Recipients to Date 
68,686 in OIF (as of June 26, 2012)
37,914 in OEF (as of June 26, 2012)
3,828 in OND (as of June 26, 2012)
Precedence
Next (higher) Combat Medical Badge
Next (lower) Expert Infantryman Badge[1]
Related USN/USMC Combat Action Ribbon
USAF Combat Action Medal


Most commanders do not issue this award to qualified soldiers unless they are directly engaged in combat. Notably, it is granted exclusively for contact with enemy combatants, so actions by noncombatants like detainees or rioting civilians do not qualify. Soldier must be personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. There is no specific requirement for the enemy hostile contact to be direct.


The award is not available to U.S. Army combat veterans of previous conflicts.



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1SG Infantry Senior Sergeant
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Hope that helps you understand the CAB!!
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SPC Michael Hunt
SPC Michael Hunt
>1 y
Thanks Top! I had an idea the CAB resembled that, now it's here in black and white.
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1LT Nick Kidwell
1LT Nick Kidwell
>1 y
We had a troop take IDF in a tower. It bounced off the tower and hit the ground, but thankfully for him, it was UXO.

In our opinion, the kid deserved a CAB. Unfortunately, the BN CO tried to extend this to all personnel on our base at the time and the base-wide award was (rightly) downchecked.

Kid shoulda got a CAB, dangit...
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