Pentagon runs out of Purple Hearts - makes vets buy their own

[shiva2999]

Support the troops!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5061221.html

Aug. 17, 2007, 6:59PM
Short of Purple Hearts, Navy tells vet to buy own


By ANNE MARIE KILDAY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

PEARLAND — Korean War veteran Nyles Reed, 75, opened an envelope last week to learn a Purple Heart had been approved for injuries he sustained as a Marine on June 22, 1952.

But there was no medal. Just a certificate and a form stating that the medal was "out of stock."

"I can imagine, of course, with what's going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, there's a big shortage," Reed said. "At least, I would imagine so."

The form letter from the Navy Personnel Command told Reed he could wait 90 days and resubmit an application, or buy his own medal.

After waiting 55 years, however, Reed decided to pay $42 for his own Purple Heart and accompanying ribbon — plus state sales taxes — at a military surplus store.

...more...

[uppy]

Bullshit

[35Pete]

Bullshit

Da Nile is not a river in Egypt.

[sukie]

Pete should the ACLU act on behalf of the soldiers?

[35Pete]

Pete should the ACLU act on behalf of the soldiers?

You don't have a clue about what they do.

[Woody]

This has been going on for awhile. For example, when you are awarded a medal at a ceremony the Commander pins it on.. you get your picture taken... and then after the ceremony somebody chases you down, mugs you for your medal and tells you to buy your own. The Military can be ghetto sometimes. :niterider

[35Pete]

Wow, that's pretty crappy Woody. You'd think a guy that got his leg blown off or shot would at least get a medal to keep.

[Gibby]

This has been going on for awhile. For example, when you are awarded a medal at a ceremony the Commander pins it on.. you get your picture taken... and then after the ceremony somebody chases you down, mugs you for your medal and tells you to buy your own. The Military can be ghetto sometimes. :niterider

This thanks goes for three things

1) Great post

2) Great Av, who is she?

3) Great Sig

[Woody]

1) Thanks. :niterider

2) Her name is Yoko Matsugane. All natural. :niterider

3) Thanks. :niterider


This thanks goes for three things

1) Great post

2) Great Av, who is she?

3) Great Sig

[Gibby]

A couple things to think about

1) The pentagon minted some half a million purple hearts in 1945 as part of operation downfall (the Invasion of Japan) and it took until this year to exhaust the supply)

2) How many stupid and unnecessary wars does it take to use up half a million purple hearts ?

[Woody]

Nah.. they'd make him scoot his chair to Clothing Sales and buy a medal. Heaven forbid we spend $6.25 for a Purple Heart.... that's just too much. We'd rather get suckered into shipping a 19 cent bolt to Iraq for $200k. :niterider


Wow, that's pretty crappy Woody. You'd think a guy that got his leg blown off or shot would at least get a medal to keep.

[г]

The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 (the Act), signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 20, 2006,[1] is a U.S. law that broadens the provisions of previous U.S. law addressing the unauthorized wearing, manufacture or selling of military decorations and medals. It is a federal offense which carries a punishment of prison time and/or a fine; the scope previously covered only the Medal of Honor.

The Act was first introduced into the United States Congress's House of Representatives on July 19, 2005 by Representative John Salazar, a Democrat from Colorado, as H.R. 3352.[2][3] It was introduced into the Senate by Senator Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota, on November 10, 2005 as S. 1998.[4][5] The Senate version was passed unanimously on September 7, 2006.[5][6] The Senate version then went to the same House Judiciary Committee that held the House version. The Act briefly stalled, but the House subsequently passed the Senate version, S. 1998, on December 6, 2006.[7]

The purpose of the Act is to strengthen the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 704 by broadening its scope and strengthening penalties. Specific new provisions in the Act include: granting more authority to Federal law enforcement officers, extending scope beyond the Medal of Honor, broadening the law to cover false claims whereas previously an overt act had to be committed, covering mailing and shipping of medals, and protecting the reputation and meaning of military heroism medals.[3][5]

The need for the Act came about because of large numbers of fake military heroes in the United States. For example, as of June 2, 2006 there were only 120 living Medal of Honor recipients, but there were far more known imposters.[8][9][10] There are also large numbers of fake Navy SEALS[11][12] and Army Special Forces,[13] among others.

The Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA), an organization of collectors, had opposed the bill in its current form. OMSA is of the opinion that the changes to 18 U.S.C. § 704 included wording that implied that any movement or exchange of medals would be illegal.[14][15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005

[г]

These U.S. Purple Heart Medals are getting to be a very rare collectable as the sale of this medal and private ownership was banned in the USA, please read below.

WHY RARE: This U.S. medal has become a very rare collectable for the following reasons, as under the new law ( Stolen Valor Act Section 740) passed in the USA, this medal in the USA only I must stress, is illegal to to be sold or owned, this new law only applies to the citizens of the United States not citizens from the rest of the world, as buying new stock of this medal will be impossible, this * US PURPLE HEART * like all the other medals banned, will sky rocket in collector's value in years to come,. so don't miss out.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/US-PURPLE-HEART-MEDAL-OLDER-SUPERIOR-QUALITY-ORDER_W0QQitemZ160146570667QQihZ006QQcategoryZ587Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Meathead]

canucks have no valor anyway

j/k. i love canadians. especially with fava beans and a nice chianti

[JLB]

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:rockon:

[iakona]

Maybe the money they are saving could go towards brooms for Walter Reed?