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jwb7605
Rear Admiral
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 690
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 4:25 pm Post subject: Purple Heart Elgibility |
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I've been asked by co-workers about the Purple Heart stuff.
I've told them that on the carrier, anybody I ever saw get injured (and there were 'more than two' here) didn't get any Purple Hearts, as far as I knew, becaust those injuries weren't a direct result of "the enemy".
I also told them that I thought that the pilots that came back in shot-up airplanes and/or crashed on deck might have gotten Purple Hearts if, but only if, this was the result of something the enemy had done (ground fire, etc) ... but I couldn't remember any Purple Hearts being awarded ceremonially.
Can anybody give anecdotal evidence about this sort of thing?
We had a pilot try to land, crash, eject during the process, and split himself up to his belly button when he hit the starboard railing after only his drogue chute had deployed. But I never heard he got a Purple Heart over that. (I'm happy to report he did live through it and was able to walk after that ...  ) |
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ALMOUNT
Lt.Jg.
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 110
Location: On the right side of Missourah
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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This is from the web site of "The Military Order of the Purple Heart,
of which I am a member.
The PURPLE HEART is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration.
An organization now known as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart," was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration. Composed exclusively of Purple Heart recipients, it is the only veterans service organization comprised strictly of "combat" veterans.
_________________
101st Airborne Div.
Vietnam 67-68
http://www.DELTARAIDERS.COM
I killed a six pack....just to watch it DIE |
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jwb7605
Rear Admiral
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 690
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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Here's a what-if:
(1) a pilot takes off in a plane or helicopter
(2) he goes into harms way, and shoots at stuff
(3) this started from an official "combat zone"
(4) the "enemy" shoots up his airplane or helicopter
... IF he gets hit by shrapnel or bullet fragment, the pilot qualifies,
but:
(5) if his airplane/helicopter crashes because of sustained damage and he is injured:
... does that count or not?
I've been saying "No, I don't think so"
My co-workers have been saying ... "hey-- that's not fair".
Which I might agree with on a couple of occasions, but that wasn't the original question. |
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ALMOUNT
Lt.Jg.
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 110
Location: On the right side of Missourah
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| jwb7605 wrote: | Here's a what-if:
(4) the "enemy" shoots up his airplane or helicopter
... IF he gets hit by shrapnel or bullet fragment, the pilot qualifies,
but:
(5) if his airplane/helicopter crashes because of sustained damage and he is injured:
... does that count or not? |
I would say yes, but maybe a pilot will clarify the question.
_________________
101st Airborne Div.
Vietnam 67-68
http://www.DELTARAIDERS.COM
I killed a six pack....just to watch it DIE |
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Airdale
Seaman Recruit
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 5:15 pm Post subject: Purple hearts |
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I never spent enough time on any of the carriers I was on to even comment. I do know that when the ammo dump in Danang was hit there were 19 of our guys that got purple hearts. The injuries ranged from having a guy running acrossed the tarmack and having his stomach sliced open by bomb fragments so bad they had to stuff his guts back in to get him to the medic (he lived) to a guy that jumped into a foxhole and landed on a hot piece of shrapnel.
Both were awarded purple hearts. Always seemed strange to me.
_________________
Donald L. Means
Atsugi, Danang & P.I.
VQ-1 1966 - 1968 |
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Hondo
LCDR
Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 423
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 8:51 pm Post subject: Purple Heart Criteria - Current |
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Here are the criteria for the Purple Heart (quoted from SECNAVINST 1650.1G, but the same for all services):
| Quote: | 9. Purple Heart (PH)
a. Authorization. Executive Order 9277 of 3 December
1942, E.O. 10409 of 12 November 1952, E.O. 11016 of 25 April
1962 as amended by E.O. 12464 of 23 February 1984, Public Law
98-525 of 19 October 1984, and Public Law 105-85 of 18 November
1997.
b. Eligibility Requirements. Awarded to members of the
Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under
competent authority in any capacity with an Armed Force of the
United States after 5 April 1917, has been killed or wounded.
(1) In action against an enemy of the United States.
(2) In 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 the result of an act of any such enemy or
opposing armed force.
(5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign
force.
(6) As the result of friendly weapon fire while
actively engaging the enemy.
(7) As the indirect result of enemy action.
(example: injuries resulting from parachuting from a plane
brought down by enemy or hostile fire.)
(8) As the result of maltreatment inflicted by their
captors while a prisoner of war.
(9) After 28 March 1973, as a result of international
terrorist attack against the U.S. or a foreign nation
friendly to the U.S.
(10) 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.
c. Definition. A "wound" is defined as an injury to
any part of the body from an outside force or agent, sustained
while in action as described in the eligibility requirements. A
physical lesion is not required, provided the concussion or
other form of injury received was a result of the action in
which engaged.
d. Limitations. Except in the case of a prisoner of
war, the wound for which the award is made must have required
treatment by a medical officer at the time of injury. Only one
award is authorized for more than one wound or injury received
at the same instant from the same missile, force, explosion, or
agent. Prisoners of war, if entitled, will be limited to a
single Purple Heart covering the entire period of their
captivity.
e. Determination of Eligibility. During World War I,
and World War II, and Korea, an individual must have been
wounded as a direct result of enemy action. During subsequent
conflicts (Vietnam and Operation DESERT STORM), the individual
must have been wounded as a result of enemy action (direct or
indirect).
(1) Veterans may apply to the National Personnel
Records Center, Navy (N314), Room 3475, 9700 Page Avenue, St.
Louis, MO 63132-5100 for a determination of eligibility. If
adequate documentation is not available in the individual's
service and/or health records, the individual may submit sworn
affidavits from two eyewitnesses who have personal knowledge of
the injury and the circumstances surrounding the incident in
which the injury occurred.
(2) For active duty personnel wounded during the
above wars or conflict, requests should be addressed to the
CHNAVPERS (PERS-312) or CMC (MMMA).
(3) Subsequent awards are denoted by gold and silver
stars. |
Regarding the incidents described in previous posts: a pilot or crewman injured in a crash resulting from the plane being shot up by the enemy would appear to qualify (indirect enemy action). If the plane crashed due to a mechanical problem or pilot error, no dice.
Both incidents at the ammo dump incident described also appear to qualify. Glad the first guy survived.
One point that isn't completely that clear in the criteria is precisely when Purple Heart eligibility was extended to cover friendly fire incidents. It's my understanding that friendly fire injuries did NOT qualify for the Purple Heart for many years, and that this eligibility was retroactively conferred (back to the date of Pearl Harbor) by Congressional action (e.g., federal law). One source I've seen indicates that friendly fire injuries became eligible on passage of Public Law 99-145, another source indicates it was PL 103-160; the latter source seems to be correct. Both of these laws postdate Vietnam by several years (1985 and 1993, respectively).
However, it's also possible that the services interpreted Purple Heart eligibility differently prior to passage of these laws. Anyone have definitive documentation on Vietnam-era Navy Purple Heart criteria that might address the issue of friendly-fire incidents and Purple Heart eligibility during Vietnam? |
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