Gates Considers Purple Heart for the Unseen Scars of War; PTSD

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has garnered some attention since the onset of the second Gulf War. A vast majority of soldiers have become afflicted with the mental stress of war symptomatically making itself known as PTSD. The disorder has come between soldiers and the ones they love, jobs, friends, and the rest of society.

Earlier this year the VA reported that 20 per cent of Iraqi war veterans have returned home to prejudice against the disorder resulting in the loss of income. Whether they are only employed at minimum wage jobs, or not at all, seems to be another part of PTSD, and can make symptoms that emerge as depression worse. It seems important to note that PTSD incurred in battle is perceived as making one dangerous, however many people have the disorder from other traumatic experiences in life without the consequences of loss of livelihood as a result of discrimination.

In response to the problem PTSD has become a worthy cause of Veterans Affairs and the entire DoD. The development of programs to help soldiers with their trauma has lead to some leaps in the diagnosis and treatments available, which are far better now than even a year ago when available treatment consisted of a mere few days of psychological therapy. Still the message of encouragement to seek treatment has not reached some who see the disorder as taboo. PTSD has been looked upon in the military as the affliction of the weak, the popular response is for the men and women who suffer from the traumatic induced disorder is to "soldier on." The "soldier on" mentality has caused military veterans not to seek treatment.

The National Center for PTSD has reported that 6-11 per cent of Enduring Freedom veterans and 12-20 per cent of Iraqi Freedom veterans have returned with PTSD in 2007 the number returning with PTSD was 17,827. According to VA reports less than 40 per cent of Veterans with PTSD seek care.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates as indicated that the DOD is considering applying the respected Purple Heart medal to victims of PTSD in an attempt to disassociate the negative stigma attached to the disorder. Gates also announced a new policy that veterans who sought treatment for PTSD would not need to indicate it on their security clearance, further diminishing the fear that veterans would be denied a security clearance and lose their careers for seeking help.

Some controversy has been indicated over the application of the Purple Heart to PTSD victims in the military with some veterans in favor of the action and others against. The Military Order of the Purple Heart feels that the award should not be given to those suffering from PTSD because the traumatic experience can be caused by anything and may not be combat related. However, John E. Fortunate the psychologist who suggested the expansion of the award to include PTSD, says that the disorder can cause damage to the brain and that is as physical and real as taking shrapnel.

(In an attempt to further the argument that PTSD victims should not receive the Purple Heart), the Army provided a copy of Army Regulation 600-8-22 on military awards, which lays out the criteria for the Purple Heart. The regulation defines a wound as “an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent,” such as shrapnel, bullets, and explosives.

- Stars and Strips May 17, 2008

"To receive the Purple Heart, service members must be wounded as a result of enemy action, and they must have been treated by a medical officer at the time of injury,"said Navy spokeswoman Ensign Laura Stegherr in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

Master Sergeant Thomas A. Torrence of the United States Air Force gave his opinion on the issue. "Honestly I would feel weird if I were given a Purple Heart for PTSD. I could get meds, be treated, and still serve with no impairment. I even want to be deployed back again. I've been trying to volunteer to go back. But I do know how hard it can be after you get back. You feel different. It's hard to sleep. Even talking to other people seems pointless, because how can they understand? But I get the objective they want to do. If anything, make another medal, that gives you certain benefits, like for medical help." MSGT Torrence has been flagged for PTSD and is in the process of seeking treatment after two years of attempting to deal with it on his own with the support and love of his family.