"M Power" wrote in message
m...
Keith - it doesn't matter *how* her vehicle was wrecked, she got a
Purple Heart for her injuries sustained from a vehicular accident.

Of course it does, being injured in combat

Even if she wasn't in a vehicle and a RPG had landed near her and she
she was injured from frag or blast directly from the explosion, she
would and should recieve the same medal...a Purple Heart. The Bronze
Star is not deserved for anything she has done, as the other two
medals have covered everthing already.


Thats an assumption on your part, as far as I know the exact
grounds for the award of that medal havent been made public
nor has an accurate record of what she did.

The Pentagon regulation on awarding Bronze Stars says they can
be given to a military member who "distinguishes himself or
herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service"
under any of three circumstances:

"While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."
"While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing
foreign force."
While serving with friendly foreign forces in which the United States is not
a belligerent party

As others have pointed out LBJ got a silver star just for being
in a plane that was shot at, he wasnt flying it and he wasnt hit.
In Kosovo Bronze Stars were awarded to people who never
entered a combat zone including an Air Force lieutenant colonel
who was leading a team of mechanics and maintenance crews at
Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

Also after the Kosovo operation the Navy awarded 69 Bronze Stars,
mostly to sailors aboard warships in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
At least four went to desk personnel in Naples, Italy.

In contrast Jessica Fletcher "While engaged in military operations
involving conflict with an opposing foreign force." received injuries that
will likely leave her in pain for the rest of her life, if a bronze star
helps her along the way I see no problem with that.

Keith