Subject: Lot of noise being made about Purple Hearts
From: Ed Rasimus
Date: 8/15/2004 9:55 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 12:25:07 -0400, Sharky wrote:

In , Ed Rasimus wrote:


This:
"Getting wounded repeatedly indicates a serious lack of
judgement."

Is not the same as:
"Certainly some wounds are unavoidable and many folks are
wounded in situations well beyond their control. But, if you get
wounded early and often, it might indicate a failure in your training,
your skills or your common sense."

As you say "it might indicate", but then it might indicate great heroism in
the face of danger. I don't believe John Kerry's PH's make him anything
close to being a hero, but to say that a soldier wounded in battle
"indicates a serious lack of judgement" is not true. I believe that is the
problem with your overall remarks - inconsistency.

"indicates a serious lack of judgement" and "indicate a failure in
your training, your skills or your common sense." don't seem to be
particularly inconsistent.

How about, "fools rush in where angels fear to tread"?

Getting repeatedly wounded is not commendable. Getting wounded
(singular) is often unavoidable, but even then can be your own damn
fault.

Heroism, in general, is being in the right place at the wrong time and
then doing something stupid and getting away with it. I have the
greatest respect for the Silver Star, the DSC/AFC/NC, and the MOH.
Many of those awards come with an ancillary Purple Heart. Folks who
put themselves in harm's way for the defense of their nation deserve
respect even if they haven't succeeded in getting themselves wounded.

Conversely, you must understand that those of us who were then accused
of being rapists, murderers, war criminals and baby-killers might hold
a bit of a grudge against the accusers.


Men who don't have Purple Hearts are now trashing men who do. Could you
vommit?


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer