It sounds like the criteria for acquisition are so watered down that the medals soon have no value anymore.
It´s also been a standing joke to comment on how courageous a US Private is, with all those ribbons they carry.
The PH has been a long standing joke for years , a person I knew in Vietnam received the honor after falling off a bar stool and got a bump on the back of his head another a cut on the hand from stringing barbed wire , there were many others .
Pardon me Tetvet, but I would expect you to show a little bit more respect for Mr. Kerry and his three PHs than that.Unlikely or not I don't lie and you were not in Vietnam where a pin prick would get you a PH .
It sounds like the criteria for acquisition are so watered down that the medals soon have no value anymore.
It´s also been a standing joke to comment on how courageous a US Private is, with all those ribbons they carry.
The criteria for the PH has not changed except in 1973 adding international terrorism. The PH never said anything about combat. You receive the PH for injuries or death caused by an enemy action. If you had to be in 'combat' then no PH for someone that stepped on a landmine and loses a leg. Or how about the guy that falls on a punji stake and buries it through his calf? No combat but clearly an injury caused by the enemy. The only thing that changed was admitting Major Nidal was a part of international terrorism. If there was no proof that Nidal was part of terrorism then it truly would have been workplace rage and no PH. My VFW Post liked the news as did my friends in my Vietnam Veterans group. The American Legion came out in support of their getting the PH.
I agree that way too many Vietnam PH's were issued. I personally know a first sergeant that heard some cannon fire and threw himself onto the ground and got a bad scratch from a plant growing there. Cannon fire was outgoing and the corpsman wiped off the blood. Bingo, PH. So, so disgusting. At least I am proud to say I was never stupid enough to get hit by enemy fire so no PH. :salute:
I see, thanks for clarifying.The criteria for the PH has not changed except in 1973 adding international terrorism. The PH never said anything about combat. You receive the PH for injuries or death caused by an enemy action. If you had to be in 'combat' then no PH for someone that stepped on a landmine and loses a leg. Or how about the guy that falls on a punji stake and buries it through his calf? No combat but clearly an injury caused by the enemy. The only thing that changed was admitting Major Nidal was a part of international terrorism. If there was no proof that Nidal was part of terrorism then it truly would have been workplace rage and no PH. My VFW Post liked the news as did my friends in my Vietnam Veterans group. The American Legion came out in support of their getting the PH.
I agree that way too many Vietnam PH's were issued. I personally know a first sergeant that heard some cannon fire and threw himself onto the ground and got a bad scratch from a plant growing there. Cannon fire was outgoing and the corpsman wiped off the blood. Bingo, PH. So, so disgusting. At least I am proud to say I was never stupid enough to get hit by enemy fire so no PH. :salute:
Makes me think of an episode we had.It isn't necessarily a matter of stupidity that gets people wounded...it is a matter of time really when you're in the grunts. Everyone gets hit sooner later over a long enough period of time...sometimes your name is on their lead and there isn't a damned thing one can do about it...
I see, thanks for clarifying.
I was hit by a piece of shrapnel in A-stan. Only a superficial wound, nothing serious, but would I then receive a PH if I was a US soldier?
It wouldn´t be sufficient to receive the Danish Medal for Wounded in Service
Makes me think of an episode we had.
One of the mates was hit in the ass by a splinter from a mortar grenade. Well such a splinter is apparently very hot because he jumped around screaming "my ass is on fire"
I laughed so much that I got stomach cramps.
When we finally caught him and got him to lie down the medic asked him if he could whistle, and when asked why the medic replied; so I can know your ass from your head! The moral was quite high for rest of the day. :wink:
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.