Requirements for a Purple Heart

[Lotus7Productions]

I havent been on here in a while, so this might have already been brought up, but I was curious...

Is there any "personal damage" requirement for a purple heart? I thought it was just if you're wounded in combat. I dont think it makes anyone less of a soldier if they lost everything below the waist, as opposed to lacerations or flesh wounds. It just means they were more unlucky.

Do you not deserve the purple heart if you still have the use of both arms and legs?

Also, I know a purple heart is an award most don't want to get. I know a vietnam vet who was awarded six purple hearts, and he bitches and moans every time I see him because the shrapnel in his leg causes him constant pain. He wishes he never would have received the stupid things, but he admires Kerry for serving his country, not pussying around by disappearing for 6 months in the national guard.

[Sri Lanky]

The ability to lick your own balls.

[RYP]

You also get one when you get killed.

[Marco_Benoit]

Ask the Republicans--especially those who dodged the draft--they seem to think anything as minor as a scratch will allow you to get one.

[crotalus01]

a purple heart is awarded for any injury in a combat zone, including friendly fire, self-inflicted accidentally and non-combat injuries - one guy got one for getting hit with a helicopter rotor during a medivac operation. criteria may have changed by now, but thats the way it was during VietNam.
someone correct me please if this is incorrect...

[Texas Carnie Roadshow]

It reminds me of an episode of MASH, where Frank Burns got a Purple Heart for shell fragments in his eye.
Egg shells.

[Vincent]

From Slate article on this subject, dated August 24, 2004:


A Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the armed forces (including the Coast Guard) who is killed or wounded in action; the severity of the injury isn't really at issue. According to Navy regulations, a worthy wound is merely "an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent, sustained while in action. … A physical lesion is not required, provided the concussion or other form of injury received was a result of the action in which engaged." The other services' regulations include similar language, stipulating, as the Army's does, that "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."

[Lotus7Productions]

The ability to lick your own balls.

HAHAHAHAHAH SWI Lanky YOU SO CWAZY!! HAHAHAHAHHAHA

shutup and eat my dick