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Date Posted: 11:44:10 02/09/05 Wed
Author: Toaster
Subject: An Attempt to Bring the Board Back to Life (kinda)

So on AOL.com there is a story of a Marine who is having his Purple Heart taken away. For those not familar with US Military medals, the Purple Heart is a medal given to soldiers who are wounded in battle. This particular marine was wounded in Iraq.

His medal is being taken away because the Purple Heart is given only to soldiers who are wounded "directly or indirectly by enemy actions" as in shooting them, hitting them in a grenade/explosive, blowing up a building that falls on them, etc. This marine was sleeping a foxhole when an American tank ran over his legs (ouch!). When he got to the hospital, he was awarded the Purple Heart because it was early in the War in Iraq and the military was quick to give out honors. As has happened throughout US military history, when someone arrives in the hospital it is hard to pinpoint exactly how they were hurt (different soldiers tend to give radically different stories), so sometimes medals are given out prematurely so the military doesn't seem hesistant to honor its soldiers.. They recently went over the paperwork and have concluded that he did not qualify for the medal, and it is being taken away. Now I believe what the Marines are doing is right. There is a strict policy about this, going back to World War I, and they are not allowing any exceptions, because if they do, that opens the flood gates to abuse of the sanctity of the award.

What do you guys think? Should his medal be taken away? Should the Marines (and the whole military) stick to this policy? Should they just ignore past cases, let him and others keep their medals, and just be more careful in awarding them in the future? An interesting topic to which I think there is hardly a "right" answer. Discuss! =)

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