http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/01/opinion/no_purple_heart_for175/ Thu, 24 May 2012 03:30:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/01/opinion/no_purple_heart_for175/comment-page-1/#comment-204 Raymon Wier Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:22:36 +0000 http://newuword1.thomasjbaker.net/?page_id=5468#comment-204 One thing I have learned in my 30 some year battle with the Veterans regional Office, is a government agency will go out of its way to keep vererans from getting what they deserve. Then its up to the veterans to fight and change the decisions the government agency made. Good example Agent Orange. I know for a fact that when you make a claim in the veternas compension system , that secondary problems can and will be recognized as valid in recieving service connection claims, Ptsd can and does cause physical problems to arise months and years later . The problems are due to the stress of ptsd on the physical body. I started out with a heavy acid reflex problem while I was in Vietnam . Now years later I have Barrets esophagus. I have to take medication and watch my diet in order to keep from getting cancer of the esophagus now. I have 100% service connection for ptsd and cancer from Agent Orange exposure. The brain is a very important part of our bodys, ptsd is a burden to our brains.. TBI is a brain injury and can see seen and understood .The concept of ptsd not being caused by the enemy in combat exposed veterans is to me the same shell game that the V.A. used for years on Agent Orange. Its just a matter fo time before they will be forced to recoginize it. Ptsd victims may not get the Purple heart but they should get the medical care just the same as ptsd can and does cause other physical problems if not treated and cared for. Agent Orange victims are denied the PH also , but I believe they should be awarded some other ( new medal) service award. Lots of my fellow vets died and are still sick from A.O. I seen lots of them come into the V.A. hospital I used to work at and they never walked out . That was hard no me to see some of my buddies not make it and know it could have been me just as easily. The PH should not be the only medal awarded to veterns for the injuries they have recieved. Its time for the government to advance into the 21st century and give awards that match the ones of our current vets, they did not fight in the Revolutionary war. I will continue to fight and support my fellow vets in getting what they need. I encourgae all vets to do the same thing. The PH is not the answer to everything. One thing I have learned in my 30 some year battle with the Veterans regional Office, is a government agency will go out of its way to keep vererans from getting what they deserve. Then its up to the veterans to fight and change the decisions the government agency made. Good example Agent Orange. I know for a fact that when you make a claim in the veternas compension system , that secondary problems can and will be recognized as valid in recieving service connection claims, Ptsd can and does cause physical problems to arise months and years later . The problems are due to the stress of ptsd on the physical body. I started out with a heavy acid reflex problem while I was in Vietnam . Now years later I have Barrets esophagus. I have to take medication and watch my diet in order to keep from getting cancer of the esophagus now. I have 100% service connection for ptsd and cancer from Agent Orange exposure. The brain is a very important part of our bodys, ptsd is a burden to our brains.. TBI is a brain injury and can see seen and understood .The concept of ptsd not being caused by the enemy in combat exposed veterans is to me the same shell game that the V.A. used for years on Agent Orange. Its just a matter fo time before they will be forced to recoginize it. Ptsd victims may not get the Purple heart but they should get the medical care just the same as ptsd can and does cause other physical problems if not treated and cared for. Agent Orange victims are denied the PH also , but I believe they should be awarded some other ( new medal) service award. Lots of my fellow vets died and are still sick from A.O. I seen lots of them come into the V.A. hospital I used to work at and they never walked out . That was hard no me to see some of my buddies not make it and know it could have been me just as easily.
The PH should not be the only medal awarded to veterns for the injuries they have recieved. Its time for the government to advance into the 21st century and give awards that match the ones of our current vets, they did not fight in the Revolutionary war.
I will continue to fight and support my fellow vets in getting what they need. I encourgae all vets to do the same thing. The PH is not the answer to everything.

]]> http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/01/opinion/no_purple_heart_for175/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Thomas Delaney Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:31:56 +0000 http://newuword1.thomasjbaker.net/?page_id=5468#comment-182 Well, the PH is a very specific medal. Originally, just a flannel patch it has been with us a very long time. John Kerry was awarded the PH for a scratch that required a full Bandaid to treat. Perhaps that since the musket line has changed to assymetrical warfare we might recognize that wounds are no longer easily diagnosed by missing/dmaged body parts. Since we have invented new medals that even include making it through boot camp .. the discussion should shift to a unique medal for service members who have lost marriages, jobs, sanity and an ability to function. Simplicity is acceptable, a bundle of arrows on one side and the constellation Orion - with the words for combat service. Problem solved. The ribbon colors are immaterial. Well, the PH is a very specific medal. Originally, just a flannel patch it has been with us a very long time. John Kerry was awarded the PH for a scratch that required a full Bandaid to treat. Perhaps that since the musket line has changed to assymetrical warfare we might recognize that wounds are no longer easily diagnosed by missing/dmaged body parts. Since we have invented new medals that even include making it through boot camp .. the discussion should shift to a unique medal for service members who have lost marriages, jobs, sanity and an ability to function. Simplicity is acceptable, a bundle of arrows on one side and the constellation Orion – with the words for combat service. Problem solved. The ribbon colors are immaterial.

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