Marine has his purple heart rescinded

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 1:36pm

I dunno, maybe it's just me ... admittedly a big old pacifist p--y ... but I believe having a 67 ton tank role over you in a foxhole in Iraq ... makes you eligible for a Purple Heart, no matter who's driving the damned tank. Did anyone else have my reaction after reading about poor Marine Eichelberger? After the guy's town threw him a parade and made him a local hero -- he got a "whoops" notice and has to send the medal back. In these days of an all-volunteer army and people ripping off service people families with high interest loans, etc. -- oh yeah, and an endless war (on terror and other things) -- why not have a big tent definition for heroism?

So this is a cautionary tale. If somebody runs over you in Iraq, and you know it's not the enemy, but just your crazed buddy having some premature post-traumatic stress syndrome ... Don't ask, don't tell. Then go home and appreciate what bit of short-lived adulation you can.

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Updated On: 2/9/05 at 01:36 PM

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 2:14pm

Yeah, I had a similar reaction when I read that this morning. And if you give him the medal, even if you later feel it is "undeserved," you shouldn't be able to take it away.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 2:21pm

I thought Purple Hearts were for any kind of injury sustained in action, whether inflicted by the enemy or by friendly fire. This issue came up with Kerry's medals.