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Karagin
Imperial Karagin Army
Imperial General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4120
Location: United States
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 Posted: 22-Aug-2004 08:57 Post subject: I need to vent... |
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Okay we had a ceremony today where they handed out Purple Hearts. So far I am doing well enough NOT to have gotten one and I like that way.
But the point here is this, we have a solider who goes to the medical center after a brief firefight on a convoy and complains that he can't hear out of his left ear. They treat him and turn in the report of incident. So far this wouldn't be a big deal since hearing loss isn't something that is normally covered under the regs for a purple heart. BUT somewhere between the CSH (Combat Support Hospital) turning the report into our battalion someone writes it up so it get's sent to the Lt. Colonel and he pushes it up with the rest of the folks who have been wounded and the person get's a Purple Heart.
Now what I am a tad upset about is it's an award that should not have been given and the solider in question isn't even thinking about refusing it, and he didn't, or not wearing it or anything of the sort. He is actually running around bragging about it and most of us are simply tired of it.
So any ways...thanks for letting me vent...I feel better now.
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Karagin
Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato
"Wasted trip Man. Nobody said nuthin' about lockin' horns with no tigers." Oddball
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 8047
Location: United States
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| Posted: 22-Aug-2004 09:27 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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Quote:
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On 2004-08-22 08:57, Karagin wrote:
Okay we had a ceremony today where they handed out Purple Hearts. So far I am doing well enough NOT to have gotten one and I like that way.
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Many of us would like it that way for you too...
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www.210sportsblog.com
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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| Posted: 22-Aug-2004 23:01 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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Tell him next time to go brag about his PH to the next guy who loses a limb.
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Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 22-Aug-2004 23:57 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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Hey, the CO needs wounded soldiers to brag about when he gets home. How else could he tell his peers his unit handled a more dangerous place than the others? 
No, it's not fair. No, it's not proper to brag about an award you didn't earn. No, you don't need to listen to the guy. Teach him some manners, Full Metal Jacket style.
And keep out of trouble.
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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Motown Scrapper
Clan Ice Hellions
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 24-Jul-2003 00:00
Posts: 2074
Location: United States
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| Posted: 23-Aug-2004 00:58 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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Sounds like he is preparing for a future attempt to become a candidate for President for the Democratic Party 
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Having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have-Rush Limbaugh www.rushlimbaugh.com
Force of nature
Still crazy after all these years
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 8047
Location: United States
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| Posted: 23-Aug-2004 05:09 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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Quote:
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On 2004-08-23 00:58, Motown Scrapper wrote:
Sounds like he is preparing for a future attempt to become a candidate for President for the Democratic Party
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Political talk belongs in the Saloon....
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www.210sportsblog.com
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Pinhead
The Bloody Clans
Joined: 25-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1258
Location: United States
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| Posted: 23-Aug-2004 07:51 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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Karagin,
Yeah it sucks. I had an uncle who served in Korea. He never talked about what he did in the war, other than when directly asked, he used to tell us, "I climbed mountains"
He has a USMC corp tattoo on his wrist and claimed it stood for Uncle Sam's Mountain Climbers.
He died a few years ago, and I was floored when I went to his funeral, and saw all the marines that were there for him. I talked to one of them a little bit, and found out that my uncle was one of a small group of guys who successfully drove back an ambush effectively giving warning and saving a bunch of guys. He got a purple heart and some other medal for heroism under fire (can't remember the name).
He never spoke about it, only told my aunt once, and never again. I'm told that alot of people who get caught in bad situations in combat, tend not to ever talk about them unless it is with someone else who was in combat.
By the way, my uncle was the kindest, gentlestnicest guy you would ever want to meet. I can barely imagine him in a firefight.
Pin
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"My Blood is not mine to give, it belongs to my Brothers"
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 23-Aug-2004 09:44 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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I never knew what my Grandfather did in the Navy until a couple of month ago when my Grandmother passed away. We were going through her house cleaning up all the paperwork and found his enlistment paperwork and his IDs. She even kept his WWII uniform that he wore on the ship. The only story he ever told about being in the Pacific was that he got to swim in the ocean.
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Festina Lente!
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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| Posted: 23-Aug-2004 10:25 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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Yessir, Mr. Chihawk, sir! 
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Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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SaberDance
Federated Suns
Colonel
Joined: 07-May-2004 00:00
Posts: 837
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| Posted: 23-Aug-2004 14:42 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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We were going through my Dad's old military stuff about a year ago (he's not dead, we were just cleaning out the garage) and found his medals from the Army. Included in the lot was his Bronze Star from Vietnam. We asked him about it and he said it was given to anybody who worked hard and kept their nose clean that year (71-72 if I remember the story right) and didn't go to pieces when the rockets started falling. The medals he was actually proud of were from his stints at Military Inteligence in DC and European Command in Stuttgart. There he "did something more important than tell draftees how not to disgrace the uniform."
We get the impression from the few war stories he tells that the quality of soldier at that time was less than stellar. He still won't tell us any more about rocket attacks than that "they happen, and you just lay down until the dirt settles."
For those who wish to bash either Presidential candidate, keep in mind Vietnam was a nightmare from start to finish. Those who went and came back deserve every honor they can get, even Kerry (though I'm not a big fan of him, either), and those who stayed at home with "other priorities" were no worse than our last President and the many other people who missed the draft, both left and right.
As for the fool with the Purple Heart, what's done is probably done. Vent to your hearts content here, but his medal is between him and his concious. It doesn't work for you to lose sleep over him.
Matt "Saberdance" Howell
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"Politics is the Art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, misdiagnosing the problem, and applying the wrong solution."
-Groucho Marx
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 24-Aug-2004 06:23 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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I guy I know has two Purple Hearts. One of them He got when he went out to have a smoke. He was on the Iowa during Beruit. He was shot from shore. A shot of about a quater mile. I've both the medal and the wound in the Quad a little above the knee...
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 24-Aug-2004 09:36 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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The things people will do for a cigarette...
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Festina Lente!
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Raven!
Clan Snow Raven
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1326
Location: United States
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| Posted: 24-Aug-2004 21:42 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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But dont' scars get girls? You can be like "Hey baby, I got this sucker when I was riding on my hummer at <insert place name>. Speaking of that..." Then you get lucky!
I'll spell this out in the saloon if anyone needs me too 
Raven!
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 25-Aug-2004 00:19 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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One guy was complaining about the logic used for giving soldiers awards on another site. He was venting a bit regarding the medal awarded to Tony Blair, but mentioned some military cases to show people how it works. Do these things sound familiar or true?
Female soldier trips and falls in the dark, coming back from an affair with a male soldier, breaks her ankle. Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal.
GI runs into a burning house, kicking down the door, and rescues the family inside, breaking a marching formation to do so. Restriction to Duty, Place of Worship and Messhall for 90 days.
Enemy contact, soldier turns around and runs away, gets punched in the face and knocked out by another soldier. Purple Heart, Bronze Star for Valor.
Soldier and friend rush to site of plane crash, suffer 2nd degree burns dragging pilot and copilot out of wreckage. Field Grade Article 15, reduction in rank.
Soldier defies orders and leads troops into battle where troops suffer casualties against a superior armed opponent dug into position. Army Achievement Medal
Soldier fires on charging vehicle, vehicle explodes in a fireball seen 10 miles away upon first rounds hitting. Grill hits soldier in the chest, nearly killing him. Chaptered out of the military.
Soldier pulls his vehicle in front of an out of control semi-truck pulling tons of unstable explosives headed for demolition. Uses his brakes to slow the truck. Destroys back end of his truck. No causulties. Certificate of Achievement.
Soldier unconscious for entire firefight due to smoking marijuana right before enemy contact. Bronze Star.
Soldier never saw combat. Never left safety. Never carried a weapon. Cried that he wanted to go home the whole time. Fell in a foxhole and broke his leg. Purple Heart, Bronze Star.
Soldier never served in combat zone. Bronze Star for Valor.
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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Ronin
ComStar
Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 907
Location: United States
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| Posted: 25-Aug-2004 09:36 Post subject: RE: I need to vent... |
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Playing devils' advocate for a moment, but perhaps somewhere along the way it was assumed that the hearing loss was due to a physical injury?
Personally, I agree that this is just wrong on so many levels. Hopefully he'll stop bragging about it when he goes to the Disabled American Vetreans or the Purple Heart Association for membership and finds out what most people had to give up for that unique honor (even though they'd rather have not earned the honor if they could have avoided it).
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