Purple Hearts & the Republican Convention

[michaeledward]

What are your thoughts on this?

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/gop.purple.hearts/index.html

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Delegates to the Republican National Convention found a new way to take a jab at Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's Vietnam service record: by sporting adhesive bandages with small purple hearts on them.
Morton Blackwell, a prominent Virginia delegate, has been handing out the heart-covered bandages to delegates, who've worn them on their chins, cheeks, the backs of their hands and other places.

Mike

 

[Feisty Mouse]

I think that's obnoxious and completely disrespectful to all the men and women who served in our Armed Forces and received that award.

 

[RandomPhantom700]

Wow, how immature of them.

 

[Jay Bell]

I think that's obnoxious and completely disrespectful to all the men and women who served in our Armed Forces and received that award.

I don't see it that way at all. I see it as them calling out a fink based on an injury that needed a Band-Aid to mend. They aren't poking fun at the medal, but the recipient of said medal on a baby-injury....and act in itself that could be seen as disrespectful of those serving in the Armed Forces who get Purple Hearts under serious and legit circumstances.

 

[Feisty Mouse]

Hi Jay

There is another thread on here discussing the SBVT agenda and Kerry's military record. Thanks for the name-calling, though. Not only do I disagree with you on Kerry's record, but a stunt like this one does not just target Kerry, but any vet who witnesses the purple heart band-aid. Calling one person's award into question in turn questions the validity of other Purple Heart recipients. The vets I know aren't very happy about this.

 

[michaeledward]

I don't see it that way at all. I see it as them calling out a fink based on an injury that needed a Band-Aid to mend. They aren't poking fun at the medal, but the recipient of said medal on a baby-injury....and act in itself that could be seen as disrespectful of those serving in the Armed Forces who get Purple Hearts under serious and legit circumstances.

Jay

The requirements for receiving a purple heart are:

3. Criteria: a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force who, while serving with the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded;
(1) In any action against an enemy of the United States;
(2) In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged;
(3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party;
(4) As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces;
(5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force;
(6) After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the department concerned, or jointly by the Secretaries of the departments concerned if persons from more than one department are wounded in the attack; or,
(7) After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations, while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.
(8) After 7 December 1941, by weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict, regardless of the fire causing the wound.
(9) While held as a prisoner of war or while being taken captive.

b. A wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer.

Criterium b. States the wound must have required treatement by a medical officer. How do you propose we change these requirements to honorably recognize those who serve?

Mike

 

[Jay Bell]

Criterium b. States the wound must have required treatement by a medical officer

Exactly...every account that I've read, including his C.O.'s at the time, said that he *did not* require medical attention for the cut.

FM,

That's interesting. The two vets that I've spoken to about it, one my Father, the other a co-worker, laughed pretty hard about it. Then again, they have a sense of humor regarding politics..

 

[michaeledward]

John Kerry received 3 Purple Heart medals while serving in Vietnam.

 

[Spud]

[font=&quot]The band-aid stunt is distasteful political theatre pulled off by a single horses’ @ss. Makes for more exciting simplistic coverage rather than covering actual issues. Then again the conventions have become nothing more than entertainment. Idiotic sound-bite posturing covered by shrill partisans like Ann Coulter and Michael Moore moderated by the seasoned analyst P. Diddy.

We deserve whoever is elected. [/font]

 

[Jay Bell]

There are no written records of Kerry's magical first Purple Heart on file at the Naval Historical Center in Washington, the nation's primary repository for such documentation. A Purple Heart normally is not requested but is awarded de facto for a wound inflicted by the enemy - a wound serious enough to require medical attention. The Naval Historical Center keeps all documents connected to such awards to U.S. Navy and Marine personnel. These typewritten "casualty cards" list the date, location and prognosis of the wound for which the Purple Heart is given, and they are produced by the medical facility that provides treatment for the combat wound at the hands of the enemy. There are two such cards for Kerry - for his slight wounds on Feb. 20 and March 13, 1969, but none for his December 1968 claim.

~ Stephen Crump, Insight Magazine

 

[Feisty Mouse]

I hope the dedicated "reporters" who are investigating Kerry's 3 Purple Hearts are also investigating the legitimacy of the other Purple Hearts awarded to our troops.

 

[Flatlander]

I hope the dedicated "reporters" who are investigating Kerry's 3 Purple Hearts are also investigating the legitimacy of the other Purple Hearts awarded to our troops.

I hope not. That would be even more atrocious. Fair, but atrocious.

 

[7starmantis]

I hope the dedicated "reporters" who are investigating Kerry's 3 Purple Hearts are also investigating the legitimacy of the other Purple Hearts awarded to our troops.

I wouldn't see the need though. Running for a political office is accepting the fact that your history will be investigated. Should the IRS officers investigating an Enron Exec also run you through the ringer and audit you? There would be no reason to, why would they? I'm not saying Kerry is right or wrong, but investigations into his history (and the history of any other presidential candidate) are not only acceptable and expected, but important and needed.

7sm

 

[rmcrobertson]

1. Likening the loon Ann Coulter to Michael Moore is inaccurate. She's better looking, but he's smarter, better-informed, and more talented. Oh--and he's not a nutjob.

2. Glad to see that the Republicans are continuing the tradition of decency, patriotism, and respect for those who served that they began with attacks on John McCain and Max Cleland.

3. I've decided that my service in the Texas ANG, which I never did, makes me the same as anybody who went to Vietnam and fought. After all, there's Presidential precedent.

 

[Feisty Mouse]

Points taken. There are reasons people will delve into Kerry's record in particular.

It makes me so frustruated to see the medals - the award itself - belittled by this behavior, though! It was created to honor people injured for our country. I wish people could give it the proper respect.

 

[michaeledward]

[font=&quot]The band-aid stunt is distasteful political theatre pulled off by a single horses’ @ss. [/font]

I wonder if such a stunt could be pulled off without the approval of the campaign. These events are pretty tightly scripted.

Of course, the band-aid could have been thought up by the same guy who wrote Jenna & Barbara's schtick ... I figure he has been re-assigned to that base in Antartica.

 

[Tgace]

My old NG unit...fresh from Iraq with 2 KIA's issued out a purple heart to one soldier who had a "burn from an RPG". It caused a "stink" in the unit because some troops say it couldnt be differentiated from a sunburn.

The Kerry PH issue... is that its being implied that he "worked the system" to get the 3 PH's so he could get out of Vietnam. And that none of them resulted in a single loss of a duty day. True?? I dont know, thats just part of what the SBVFT are saying as I understand it.

 

[michaeledward]

Deleted .. it wasn't that thoughtful

 

[7starmantis]

Points taken. There are reasons people will delve into Kerry's record in particular.

It makes me so frustruated to see the medals - the award itself - belittled by this behavior, though! It was created to honor people injured for our country. I wish people could give it the proper respect.

I can deffinitely agree with you there. I have the most respect for our military and those who have defeneded our country out of anyone I know. I agree its frustrating and sad that it gets belittled.

7sm

 

[AaronLucia]

I believe it is wise to investigate Kerry's awards, especially if he is so vehement about using them for his campaign.

I know every Officer that did a tour in Iraq got a Bronze Star, even the ones who didn't do crap.

I never got to sit around and work on my computer and sit on the base, i was out walking the streets, watching the city or driving around. What do I get?
An Army Commendiation Medal, just like EVERY other soldier.

While the issue of whether or not someone really deserves the Purple Heart is trivial, it isn't when it's having to do with a presidential candidate. If we found out Kerry was lying why would we want him in office? If he is completely truthful, then we owe it to him to find out to eliminate all doubt.