At
joeuser.comTo suggest that Kerry was awarded three Purple Hearts for “self-afflicted” wounds, is, of course, pure navy scuttlebutt
. Only civilians, who have no understanding of the deadly power of U.S. weapons, would be gullible to find it believable of a person running for office whom they despise. However, for fellow veterans who would suggest such a thing and thereby reduce war to joke should be under suspicion themselves for ever really engaging the enemy.
In combat, it is possible to be victimized by uncontrollable fear — we called that Island Happy — by making a mistake, such as pausing too long in squeezing the trigger or the pull of a grenade and wind up with a bayonet in your gut, or simply too lazy to dig a foxhole or stupidly to remove a helmet while under a Nambu or mortar attack, resulting in a Purple Heart. Training, along with self-preservation — usually obviates such cases, or at least, held to a minimum. So called light wounds that temporarily disable a fighter, requiring treatment, is sent to triage, patched up and rested for a time before returned to the front, whereupon he would look gung-ho courting a bloody bandage, his red badge of courage. Though he might have assumed eligibility for a Purple Heart, it is never the victim’s prerogative to demand nor even request it, as it all depends on medical records and the intensity at the moment of treating the seriously wounded in triage.
*******
Nice comments following too.