David Hackworth: The Meaning Of A Purple Heart

[DinahMoeHum]

David Hackworth, defending John Kerry: "No one should play politics with any warrior's wounds."

Link:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-06-15-hackman_x.htm

(snip)
Now a number of war veterans have picked the campaign-stumping season to question the first Purple Heart that Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry received during his four months as a small-boat skipper — where one day out on Vietnam's rivers and canals was a lifetime, and four months had to have been an eternity.
(snip)
The awards system has always been fraught with abuse, but for anyone who has ever served in combat, the difference between earning a Purple Heart and death is, indeed, very slim.

Former Navy doctor Louis Letson clearly recalls treating Kerry and removing a small piece of metal from his arm with forceps, bandaging that wound and returning him to duty. And when Kerry was hit, he was certainly engaged with the enemy and in harm's way.

In fact, if the fragment Letson removed had been slightly larger and struck the lieutenant between the eyes, Kerry's award would no longer be a current-events issue — since he'd be planted in Arlington National Cemetery instead of campaigning to be the next occupant of the Oval Office nearby.
(snip)

:kick:

[Submariner]

1. Finally some clout from Hack that

should take the air out of those gasbags that never served on a boat with Kerry, thus don't know WTF they are talking about.

[Howardx]

2. i like hack a lot

he's out to protect the little guy in the military. answers email too