Pentagon says Purple Heart won't be awarded for post-traumatic stress disorder

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-purple-heart-ptsd,0,3140428.story

By Associated Press
11:44 PM CST, January 7, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has decided it will not give the Purple Heart, the prestigious medal awarded to service members wounded or killed in action, to sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder.

"The Defense Department has determined that based on current Purple Heart criteria, PTSD is not a qualifying Purple Heart wound," department spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said.

"PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event," Lainez said. It is not "a wound intentionally caused by the enemy from an outside force or agent."

[Cid_B]

1. Good... NT

[varkam]

2. So it has to be a wound that is intentionally caused?

Seems that would actually disqualify a lot of wounds from PH status.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Need to hem them in on the (alleged) *specific* reason...

Is it not a *wound*?

Is it not an *intentional* wound?

Is it not an intentional wound *caused by the enemy*?

Is it not an intentional wound caused by the enemy *from an outside force or agent*.


If they say the entire conjunction fails, it is incumbent upon them to say which conjunct fails.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

4. Is there a medal for psych. wounds intentionally caused by gov't?

Treating them like lab rats with experimental drugs, par example. Or what about those wounds caused by "friendly fire" (should they survive), like when a troop refuses to go along with what s/he sees as an immoral act, and his or her comrades are ordered to punish them for it?

(We have seen the enemy and it is "us")

[ThomWV]

5. Absolutly correct - I had to bleed for mine, everyone else should have to bleed for theirs.