Fox really should study who they put on TV. Seems today there was a “Navy captain” expounding on why the he and others like them should get a purple heart for PTSD. As the story unfolded seems this Navy captain" was a plane captain, some E4 or E5 who they showed photos of ( in USN camo of course) standing by an aircraft he gets ready for a pilot on the deck of a carrier. PTSD? Are you kidding me? Perhaps this kid didn’t get Internet some night, or even worse perhaps they ran out of ice cream during mid-rats. For someone never getting shot at to gain a purple heart due to “stress” they receive in the back line is a disgrace to real fighting men and women who really know what battle stress is like.
Fox news should do some research and background before they stand just anyone up before a camera that dons a uniform. While I like fox news, they seem enamored by anyone with the slightest military background.
Purple heart for PTSD? Wow, I shutter to think about the greatest generation and how they won real metals. These days it seems they give out a purple heart to anyone when whey they get hurt feelings or have a bad day.
I give the guy credit, he did correct them right away. I suspect he was on because he was the head of the group and not because of his Navy rank. Funny though, that the picture they showed was dated 1972. In '72 the Ticonderoga wasn’t in Vietnam and hadn’t been since '68. Makes one wonder if the esteemed “plane captain” was ever in Vietnam?
Good point, but my point is that even IF the Ticonderoga was in Vietnam at the time, how would a plane captain be a casualty of PTSD? Sure, the pilot could be a candidate, but support personnel laying off shore on a carrier?
[QUOTE=Xmsccapt(ret);74219]Good point, but my point is that even IF the Ticonderoga was in Vietnam at the time, how would a plane captain be a casualty of PTSD? Sure, the pilot could be a candidate, but support personnel laying off shore on a carrier?[/QUOTE]
I consider the PTSD craze to be more a result of overeager psychologists. There are definitely some real cases, but I think it is over diagnosed and some people are convinced into believing they have it by its over publicization.
During my two recalls, I “deployed” to SouthEast DC, commuted almost 2 hrs each way because I was 5 mi. inside the TDY distance and I worked at MSC HQ … I’m probably just as justified to claim to PTSD.
[QUOTE=Xmsccapt(ret);74219]Good point, but my point is that even IF the Ticonderoga was in Vietnam at the time, how would a plane captain be a casualty of PTSD? Sure, the pilot could be a candidate, but support personnel laying off shore on a carrier?[/QUOTE]
PTSD isn’t limited to the military, a civilian that has a traumatic experience, like getting mugged for example, can experience PTSD. The flight deck of a carrier is a very dangrous place to work in the Navy, probably could be considerd traumaticly stressful. However, I don’t see why one wouldn’t have “gotten over it” after all these years. A few San Miguels usually work for me to relieve stress; if it’s traumatic stress I go for some Tanduay.
I consider the broadcast source: Anything coming from Faux News “fair and balanced” coverage is automatically suspect in my view. O’Riely is an idiot, Hannity is a Koch Brothers shill and they wouldn’t know journalism if it dropped off an UnRep tower on them.
And CNN or MSNBC are better? For my money I’ll take fox anytime. My only issue with fox is that they think anyone that ever wore a uniform is some sort of god… I never miss O’Riely, Hannity or Greta for that matter. And if Mega Kelly tells me something with those eyes I’m going to listen!
Of course one could get some sort of stress issues just from every day like in traffic. But no one is due a purple heart that didn’t spend time in a war zone fighting the enemy. If the military is going to start giving away purple hearts, they should make another called the pink pansy, it could be pinned on pink panties that also come with the award.
I received an Combat Infantry Badge and Purple Heart. Both of these benefit people when they apply for VA disability, and so people want them, for the money. I know guys who are receiving VA PTSD disability benefits for falling down the stairs in their barracks. As with all such systems there will be abusers, and right now it seems to be part of the culture to get $$ from the government.
As to the Purple Heart, I say go by the book.
Below is from Wiki,
Per United States Army regulation 600-8-22, the Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded or killed. Specific examples of services which warrant the Purple Heart include any action against an enemy of the United States; any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged; 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; as a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces; or as the result of an act of any hostile foreign force.
A “wound” is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required; however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award. The Purple Heart is not awarded for non-combative injuries.
Enemy-related injuries which [I]justify[/I] the award of the Purple Heart include injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action; injury caused by enemy placed land mine, naval mine, or trap; injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent; injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire; concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.
Injuries or wounds which [I]do not qualify[/I] for award of the Purple Heart include frostbite or trench foot injuries; heat stroke; food poisoning not caused by enemy agents; chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy; battle fatigue; disease not directly caused by enemy agents; accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action; self-inflicted wounds (e.g., a soldier accidentally fires their own gun and the bullet strikes his or her leg), except when in the heat of battle, and not involving gross negligence; post-traumatic stress disorders;[SUP][5][/SUP] and jump injuries not caused by enemy action.
[QUOTE=Xmsccapt(ret);74360]Of course one could get some sort of stress issues just from every day like in traffic. But no one is due a purple heart that didn’t spend time in a war zone fighting the enemy. If the military is going to start giving away purple hearts, they should make another called the pink pansy, it could be pinned on pink panties that also come with the award.[/QUOTE]
I agree with you on the Purple Heart awarding criteria.
It’s like the whole Generation Y “everybody gets a trophy for participating” thing has seeped into the military. Everybody’s level of participation and sacrifice is different and should be recognized accordingly.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;74436]It’s like the whole Generation Y “everybody gets a trophy for participating” thing has seeped into the military.[/QUOTE]
It did that a long time ago. Those of us who qualified on submarines or flew aircraft earned dolphins and wings. Now a seaman apprentice messcook on a tugboat gets a pin that only a microscope can tell apart from hard earned “fish.”
A good friend of gCaptain, Ryan Holiday, just wrote an eye opening book on this very subject called “Trust Me I’m Lying”. Well worth the read if you’re interested in why the media is getting more clueless by the day!
