"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
John H wrote:

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 22:21:56 GMT, wrote:


"John H" wrote in message
. ..

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 17:00:37 -0400, "Don"

wrote:

The receipt of a Purple Heart does not signify a serious wound. A
shrapnel

wound

could be a scratch or a lost leg. Both could earn a Purple Heart. If
Kerry

was

not hospitalized, the wound could not have been very serious. Serious

wounds

often end up in Walter Reed.

John H


John
Once again you speak of what you do not know.


From AR 600-8-22:

a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the
United
States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the
United States who, while serving under competent authority in any
capacity
with one of 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 Army, or jointly by
the
Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from
more
than one service are wounded in the attack.

(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.

While clearly an individual decoration, the Purple Heart differs from
all
other decorations in that an individual is not "recommended" for the
decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific
criteria.

(1) A Purple Heart is authorized for the first wound suffered under
conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an Oak Leaf
Cluster will be awarded to be worn on the medal or ribbon. Not more than
one
award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the
same
instant or from the same missile, force, explosion, or agent.

(2) A wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an
outside
force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed
above. A
physical lesion is not required, however, the wound for which the award
is
made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of
medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have
been
made a matter of official record.

(3) When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that
commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy
caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was
participating in
direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is
not
sole justification for award.

(4) Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of
the
Purple Heart are as follows:
(a) Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile
created by enemy action.
(b) Injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap.
(c) Injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear
agent.
(d) Injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from
enemy
fire.
(e) Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated
explosions.



And what part of the regulation did I wrongly state? Note that a wound
is an
injury (severity is not indicated), and that a physical lesion is *not*
required. Medical treatment is required, as is documentation. This can
consist
of a bandage and an annotation in medical records.

When it comes to Purple Hearts, I *do* know of which I speak. I would
venture to
say I have had much more experience in that regard than you have had.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!


Splinters?

Isn't that what Kerry's Purple Hearts were for?