George Harris KC Star Reader Advisory Panel 2008
The Pentagon has decided not to award the Purple Heart to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The New York Times reported that a Pentagon advisory group decided against giving the award for PTSD because the condition is not caused intentionally by the enemy and because it is difficult to diagnose and quantify.
At least part of this argument is absurd on its face; no one can argue that the enemy’s specific intention in Iraq is to remove a soldier’s arm or leg. Their intention is to kill, and specific injuries are the unintended consequence of failure to achieve the objective.
Various sources estimate the incidence of PTSD in returning Iraq veterans to be at 20% to 40% with soldiers returning from multiple tours having increasingly higher rates and severity of illness.
Historically, Purple Hearts have been given to injuries that caused bleeding. But this simple distinction would rule out the award for soldiers with closed head injuries, one of the most common injuries in Iraq and commonly associated with PTSD.
The general public has long stigmatized people with mental illness. In pre-scientific times, mental illness was believed to result from demons, and in modern times some people still believe that people could control mental illness with more desire and self-control.
But severe mental illness, such as PTSD, is accompanied by actual physical changes in the brain. Brain imaging techniques are improving and revealing areas of the brain that show abnormal activity in these disorders.
Psychological tests can also quantify the severity of PTSD and detect malingering, though no test is perfect in either regard.
Until recently, insurance companies discriminated against psychiatric disorders. However, recent legislation requires parity of benefits for psychiatric and general medicine disorders, and it is outdated and discriminatory for the Pentagon to flatly rule out PTSD as a condition justifying the award of the Purple Heart.
One problem with identifying PTSD is that its causes can be cumulative. That is, multiple exposures to trauma can ultimately cause the disorder. Another complication is that PTSD can have delayed onset, sometimes decades later as has been seen in Vietnam veterans.
Police officers also often experience cumulative and delayed onset PTSD, and this complicates their disability compensation determinations.
But because an illness is complicated is not a justification for denying recognition of it.
For both soldiers and police officers, the standards for medals and disability awards should be updated to include these very real and serious psychiatric injuries. Though they may be difficult to rate, the disorders are a result of service to the nation and community, and it is a slap in the face of these men and women with PTSD to imply that their sacrifices are unworthy.
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Not necessary that we
Not necessary that we sympathize with disabled people rather our actions should be such in a way to support them. That would boost their morale and would feel as amongst one of us.
Jennifer,
Mobility Scooters
care and awards
The Pentagon and the Army in particular take PTSD very seriously. Fort Leavenworth has a wonderful Mental Health Clinic with professionals who work the issue daily with uniformed patients, retirees, and family members. I know there are veterans who have fallen through the crack of care and that is very important to address.
As Grant explains, it’s a controversial subject even within the military. Each conflict has its own “medal award” legacy. There are slick-chested veterans out there who fought well and heroically but did not get their ribbons while others received Bronze Stars for delivering mail to Grenada. Such is the nature of things.
When I read posts here, I’m reminded of the film “The Deer Hunter”. While film can never come close to explaining reality, especially to those who’ve experienced battle, this film does paint the many dimensions of pain.
Most military professionals, real soldiers, do not care about awards and decorations. The “military family” works hard to care for its own, tells stories with humility, and knows the heroes reside in places like Arlington and Fort Leavenworth’s hallowed ground cemetery.
This is a healthy debate, though.
Tom Ryan
The Crossroads
Kansas City, MO
not so sure it is that simple
As usual- I don't think this is a simple issue. Having had multiple discussions on this issue, I'd like to post a synopsis:
Many of us think that the Army gives too many awards as it is. The Marines seem to not award as much as everyone else and not wear that many. It is a little interesting to stand next to a Marine who was in combat who has three awards and an Airman who has never left the headquarters and wears rows and rows of ribbons.
Instead of adding PTSD to the Purple Heart criteria, many would rather take some away from the PH criteria. In fact, it is left up to the commander in many cases as to exactly what that criteria are. Some Marines would rather only award a PH in case of enemy action wherein someone received injuries due to a bullet or fragments from an explosion. I've seen other commanders who would give an award for falling out of a vehicle and getting injured while trying to get out of the line of fire.
I know many who favor limiting the PH to only those who received wounds from enemy fire- to include IED's and the like. Expanding it to any injury during a firefight seems to point towards award inflation. If the Army allowed PTSD to get the PH, would it eventually expand to include those who got PTSD while working in an office or on the flight-line, but never came under enemy fire? If anything, the last thing we need is a bunch of soldiers wearing tons of ribbons and not feeling like they really deserved most.
This is not to denigrate PTSD. The Army has done a lot since 2001 to raise awareness of PTSD. 8 years ago it was considered risky to one's career if they admitted to PTSD or mental issues dealing with a deployment. That has changed- and now soldiers are encouraged to not only seek medical help, but for commanders to take the initiative and help their soldiers seek help.
PTSD and Purple Hearts
I appreciate George Harris' column on the Pentagan refusing to award Purple Hearts to soldiers injured in combat and suffering from PTSD. PTSD is a psychiatric injury, not an illness. If it can be diagnosed, it should be recognized and acknowledged by those responsible for placing the soldier in harm's way. A PTSD injury is as real as any physical injury and can be as disabliing and life-threatening as a major physical trauma. One of the reasons the Pentagon has chosen to linger in the dark ages when it comes to dealing responsibly with PTSD is that some hospitals still do not recognize or provide treatment for PTSD. Although I've never been in the military or in warfare, I was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of being the target of a "workplace bully" for over two and a half years. Even though my employer, St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, part of the Trinity Health system headquartered in Novi. Michigan, diagnosed the PTSD injury as occurring on the job at Saint Alphonsus, I was not offered any treatment for the injury not any protection from additional injury. I reported the PTSD to management numerous times including to the CEO and to senior management at Trinity Health and never received a response addressing the injury. So it's unlikely the Pentagon will take PTSD seriously as long as there are medical center such as those operated by Trinity Health, which do not recognize or provide treatment for PTSD. Thanks again for the column.
Sincerely,
Leonard Nolt
www.leonardnolt.blogspot.com
Witness
As a witness to the disability caused by PTSD I advocate for some kind of recognition by our military for this sacrifice by our men and women. WWII vets suffered from "shell shock". My father earned both Bronze Star and Purple Heart. We were always proud of his heroism, but as he recovered from his physical injuries, he nevertheless remained an alcoholic the rest of his life, ending his marriage, and causing generations of familial dysfunction. There is no medal that could compensate, but the recognition that the anguish of mental wounds linger would be a sign of the nation's compassion for the suffering by the soldier as well as his or her family.
I agree with Nukman, George
I also have been listening to Shanin and Parks this afternoon who had one of your professional peers as a guest. He stressed the frequency of abuse of the claim for a variety of reasons and, as a Military Veteran believed it would dilute the perceived "value" of a purple heart.
Though I am personally ambiguous about that as a valid reason for not so honoring them it would seem that the traditional criteria holds merit.
The Purple Heart has
The Purple Heart has traditionally been awarded for physical injury in combat. I believe that the Pentagon advisory committee made the correct decission.
While PTSD can be disabling it does not involve physical injury inflicted by the enemy.
PTSD can and should make individuals who experience it eligable for disability compensation but not a military award.
PTSD
Let's focus on a couple of paragraphs by George:
Historically, Purple Hearts have been given to injuries that caused bleeding. But this simple distinction would rule out the award for soldiers with closed head injuries, one of the most common injuries in Iraq and commonly associated with PTSD.
* * *
But severe mental illness, such as PTSD, is accompanied by actual physical changes in the brain. Brain imaging techniques are improving and revealing areas of the brain that show abnormal activity in these disorders.