Do You Know About The Purple Heart Discussion

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 19:43:24 -0400

The Purple Heart discussion

Jonn Lilyea | May 13, 2015
On May 1st, the Armed Services Committee sent the Defense Budget to Congress for a vote. In the bill, in section 583, the committee submitted that the Purple Heart should be awarded to the six active duty members of the military who died in Oklahoma when terrorists bombed the Murrah Federal Building;

SEC. 583. AWARD OF PURPLE HEART TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO WERE VICTIMS OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, BOMBING.
Notwithstanding section 571(a)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3387), the Secretary of the military department concerned shall award the Purple Heart pursuant to section 1129a of title 10, United States Code, to the following members of the Armed Forces who were killed in the bombing that occurred at the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on April 19, 1995:

(1) Sergeant First Class Lola Renee Bolden, United States Army.
(2) Sergeant Benjamin Laranzo Davis, United States Marine Corps.
(3) Captain Randolph Albert Guzman, United States Marine Corps.
(4) Airman First Class Lakesha Racquel Levy,United States Air Force.
(5) Airman First Class Cartney Jean Mcraven, United States Air Force.
(6) Master Sergeant Victoria Lee Sohn, United States Army.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart has expressed their displeasure in a press release;

While the MOPH is sympathetic to the loss suffered by the families and friends of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, and especially those who were serving at the time in the Armed Forces of the U.S. it cannot support or condone award of America’s oldest and most venerated combat decoration for an act of pure domestic violence. The attack on the Federal Building which killed 168 people and injured more than 680 others on April 19, 1995 was carried out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols solely in retaliation for a perceived Federal Government mishandling of the 1993 siege of Ruby Ridge, and was timed to coincide with the second anniversary of the deadly fire that ended the siege in Waco, TX.

The criteria for award of the Purple Heart medal has been constant and clear – it is awarded only to those who are killed or wounded in combat. In recent years the criteria has been extended to accommodate a change in warfare that has brought the battlefield to our own shores in the form of international terrorism. The MOPH has fully supported award of the Purple Heart to victims in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and the 2009 Ft. Hood, TX, and the Little Rock AR Recruiting Station shootings because these incidents were clearly inspired or motivated by international terrorist organizations. The Oklahoma City bombing had nothing to do with combat on the battlefield or international terrorism.

The MOPH urges all Members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, especially those who serve on the Armed Services Committees, to reject this amendment that would cheapen the intent and importance of the Purple Heart medal and denigrate its meaning for those who have received it for their sacrifices to protect the freedoms that all Americans enjoy.

While I agree with the MOPH to some degree, I disagree that it was merely an instance of domestic terrorism, or that should be the sole reason that they oppose the award. The Fort Hood attack could be accurately described as a case of domestic terrorism – an American member of the military attacks other American members of the military to make a political statement about the war in the middle east.

Sergeant James Goins was awarded a Purple Heart on April 30th, 1986 for the injuries he sustained when Libyans bombed the West Berlin LaBelle Disco – he died a few weeks later after losing both legs to the surgeons. But he was out on the town, drinking and dancing when he got clobbered by terrorists.

I’m still not sure why Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols bombed the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, I don’t think they were clear on their reasons either. But the list of members of the military above who lost their lives that day were at their duty station and engaged in daily duties when they lost their lives. Just like my wife’s friend, Captain Maria Ines Ortiz who lost her life while she was doing her daily PT run inside the Green Zone in Iraq. She was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

I guess my point is that in this day and age, just doing your duty, just being where you’re supposed to be, no matter where that is, no matter how mundane your job is, that’s enough to get you killed in the war against terror. Ask Private William Long and Private Quinton Ezeagwula who happened to be on hometown recruiter duty and on a smoke break in Little Rock when Carlos Bledsoe decided to shoot them and resulting in Private Long’s death on June 1, 2009.

In my opinion, MOPH should be lobbying for Long’s and Ezeagwula’s awards of the Purple Heart for the same reasons that they oppose the award to the deceased from the Murrah Building.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 7:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 19:54:18 -0400

Interesting

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 13 at 2015 8:13 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:13:27 -0400

The idea of "cheapening awards" perturbs me.

Someone else getting something in no way lessens another person's accomplishment.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 13 at 2015 8:43 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:43:52 -0400

Military personnel injured or worse in the LOD due to an act of domestic terrorism is no less serious than being wounded in combat. Changing times calls for changing regs where appropriate.

Response by SFC Joseph James made May 13 at 2015 11:14 PM

SFC Joseph James — Wed, 13 May 2015 23:14:27 -0400

Well this is an interested debate. As an actual PH recipient I kinda have a dog in this race. I'm sure that the focus of the honor of the Purple Heart comes from the definition in why it exists. It exists to give a small piece of honor and respect to a serviceman or servicewoman injured or killed while fighting the enemies of the United States. It represents sacrifice while in Combat/ War. That's why it started and why it should continue. We have been attacked by the enemy here a few times and i believe they should be awarded the medal. Let's not cheapen the rules so everyone feels better, let's honor the history of the Purple Heart.