The Issue & What You Told Us?

The Issue: 

The Department of Defense recently ruled that it would not, at this time, approve the award the Purple Heart for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Opponents believe the Purple Heart should be awarded only for physical wounds sustained as a result of combat action.

Proponents believe combat-related PTSD is also a wound and that recognizing it with the award of a Purple Heart would remove the stigma of PTSD.

The question we posed to our readers was a simple one:

"Do you think recognizing PTSD with the award of the Purple Heart would make it easier for soldiers to seek help for their condition?"

What You Said:

It was not surprising that the overwhelming majority of responses supported the award of the Purple Heart for combat-related PTSD.  That was expected since our site is geared to attract those who suffer from PTSD.  However, the detail of the responses, and the wisdom and common sense arguments made in support of doing so, were most revealing.

For example, in support of why the Purple Heart should be awarded to those with combat-related PTSD, a veteran of Iraq said this; "Most Purple Heart recipients completely recover from their physical wounds.  Most combat veterans suffering from PTSD will never fully recover from their psychic wounds."

Similarily, a Vietnam veteran said; "I received a Purple Heart for a shell fragment that hit me in the arm.  The wound healed before I got the medal.  Here I am 40 years later and I can't even find the scar on my arm but I still have nightmares about Vietnam.  A Purple Heart for PTSD?  Hell yes!"

A World War II veteran wrote to say; "Sometimes the deepest wounds of war are the ones that don't bleed.  They are the ones that slowly eat at you from the inside out."

An almost universal comment from veterans was expressed by one who simply said; "Everybody respects a Purple Heart and knows what it means.  I think having one would make it easier for vets with PTSD to get the help that we need."

Most who wrote in felt the integrity of the Purple Heart, as a combat-related award, had to be protected if it were to be awarded for PTSD.  How do you ensure that the Purple Heart for PTSD is actually awarded to somebody who suffers from PTSD that had its genesis in a combat-related experience?  Again, the common sense and the wisdom of everyday G.I.'s is not to be overlooked.  

• Each branch of the service has an award that denotes when an individual has been engaged in combat.  This is the first generation of veterans where this is true.  Some military specialities have badges that denote combat; i.e., the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Combat Medic Badge.  For the Army, the new Combat Action Badge may now be awarded to any soldier who engages in combat action.  Likewise, the Marine Corps has its Combat Action Ribbon.

• There is no reason a Purple Heart for PTSD could not be awarded based on a two-part criteria.  First, there would have to be irrefutable evidence such as a combat badge or other documentation of combat service.  Then, there would have to be a bonafide diagnosis of PTSD that relates the condition to combat experience(s).

We believe this two-tier award criteria would protect the tradition of the Purple Heart being awarded for combat wounds.  We believe a diagnosis of PTSD is a more valid reason for the award of a Purple Heart than many of the superficial wounds now recognized.  It seems only logical that the Purple Heart should be awarded for a life-altering condition that is a direct result of combat service.

And, finally awarding the Purple Heart for combat-related PTSD would remove any ill-conceived notion that it is not a legitimate injury of war.  Moreover, it would allow unfettered access to both the care and honor we accord those who sacrifice on our behalf during war.

Again, we thank our readers for taking the time to share with us their thoughts on this issue.