Murtha's War Hero Status Called Into Question

cnsnews.com ^ | 1/13/05 | By Marc Morano and Randy Hall

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"He was put in for it by his CO,..."

Unless things have changed, or I'm losing my memory, you aren't "put in" for a purple heart. When you are treated for a wound by medical personnel they fill out a tag on the injury and that report makes it's way up the chain and the medal is awarded.

Cleland isn't a good example of a phony PH because he was wounded during combat operations. It doesn't matter who blew him up.

Michael Frazier

[MamaB]

He is a traitor to the brave men and women who are serving over there. A real hero does not brag about medals. I know my brother has many but I do not have a clue as to what they are. I hope my niece does.

[MamaB]

I hope so.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

cmppc left our midst well over an hour ago.
It will not be missed ;)

[Kitty Mittens]

Your Post has Inspired me, Donald Rumsfeld Fan, and Made me So Thankful for the Good men who Lead our Nation. Bush Sr. and Bob Dole are two men I Esteem Very Highly, along with Ronald Reagan; they are Real Men, Unlike Some who have Occupied the White House. I didn't Always Agree with their Politics, but they are Courageous, Patriotic Men who are Deserving of our Highest Respect and Honor.

I So Wanted Bob Dole to Win the White House that I Refered to him as "President Dole" whenever I would Mention his Name to Anyone in my Family! I was Devastated when he didn't Win.

My Computer Refuses to Let me See the Third Picture you Posted, Even when I Hit "Show Picture," so I will Look at it Tonight on my Other Computer. (Thank you for that 2nd Picture!)

[GretchenM]

Yes.

It's john kerry redux and the public has a right to know, especially since Murtha has become the dem attack dog against the administration's conduct of the war, and policy, regarding Iraq.

[JCEccles]

People who didn't serve who criticize war records of people who put their life on line while the criticizers kept their fat asses pinned to couches are vermin in my opinion.

I served. I say if Murtha's war record is a fraud, expose him.

Murtha should not be allowed to climb atop a box of lies to claim the moral high ground to criticize what our troops are doing in Iraq. He himself has opened his war record to scrutiny. He has no cause to complain if we accept the invitation and take a hard look.

[onedoug]

"Get it?"

"Got it."

"Good."

[DJ Taylor]

"Cleland isn't a good example of a phony PH because he was wounded during combat operations. It doesn't matter who blew him up."

Being wounded during an operation in Vietnam did not necessarily authorize the award of a Purple Heart. The wound had to be the result of enemy fire. The way I read the Max Cleland wounding was that it occurred during an administrative landing of a helicopter on a secured LZ on a U.S. firebase. The helicopter had landed, some passengers had exited the helicopter, and Cleland decided at the last minute to stay at the firebase and meet with friends who were assigned there. Cleland threw his gear off the helicopter, jumped off, picked up his gear and started to walk away when he looked back and saw a U.S. hand grenade laying on the ground where his gear had been. Thinking he had accidentally dropped the grenade, he turned around to pick it up, and as he reached for it, the grenade exploded. This was undoubtedly a tragic accident but was not the result of enemy fire and would not normally have resulted in the award of a Purple Heart.

I don't know if anyone ever did a statistical study on the subject, but from personal experience, I witnessed almost as many U.S. troops wounded or killed by either accident or by friendly fire in Vietnam as I did by enemy fire. But then, no unit I served with ever took a good ass kicking.

[AnAmericanMother]

My daddy will tell you he wasn't a hero, he just did his duty. Lots of other folks did far more braver deeds than he did, he will say.

But I don't care what he says, he's MY hero!

[razorback-bert]

If any pubbies get caught lying, hang 'em high.

[Gucho]

[BIGLOOK]

Accidents don't count. During a rocket attack, a friend of mine busted a wing diving for cover. Ruled an accident. during another rocket attack several of us were rained on by shrapnel. Also accidental.
While in Danang, we got an occasional afternoon at China Beach in country R&R and recuperation area for those dinged up in action. Some got PHs, some didn't.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Hey "Move On FReeper" who had my FR account suspended on 1/14/06 Listen Up

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1557630/posts?page=379#379

I KNOW you are here lurking.

Your FR profile has no info about you or
an e-mail address to write to you?

You've been afraid to even be on this thread
and orchestrated my account being suspended
(the 1st and only time on FR)
by FReep Mail only.

So if I FReep mail you I'll probably be suspended a 2nd time
since you have at least one Mod from the "Move On FReepers"
on your side.

So go to my profile page and send me your real e-mail address.
http://www.freerepublic.com/~6869tonkingulfyachtc/

I'll be waiting for your e-mail!

[river rat]

"...strongly suggest reinstatement of the draft."

I have mixed feelings on that....
I'd hate to introduce unwilling, unsuited amateurs into a fine running professional volunteer warrior corps, but on the other hand -- every male would benefit from the experience and perhaps gain some sense of loyalty to country...

Semper Fi

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Hey "Move on FReeper", pay attention and learn

Jack Murtha's "Fake" Purple Hearts, An Open Letter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1558666/posts

[river rat]

In I Corps - most Intel Officers were NOT REMF...they were often "near in fear" when the SHTF!
It was not uncommon to have them exposed and in harm's way... Hell, you could even get yourself killed mainside DaNang!
I have no difficulty accepting the story that Murtha may have been of this type and in harm's way ---- I simply doubt the truth of his "heroics" and his DESERVING two "Purple Hearts"..

Semper Fi

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Sometimes these links I get from Google Images are prone to break. I hit the preview button and they're OK. But when I post they're broken. I have no idea why.

Let's try one more time Kitty and if it breaks so be it. It's a photo of Bush Sr. being fished out of the sea and onto what appears to be the deck of a submarine.

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
"I witnessed almost as many U.S. troops wounded or killed by either accident or by friendly fire in Vietnam as I did by enemy fire."

Not just in Vietnam. Since man started using projectile weapons he has been accidentally killing or wounding his buddies and himself. Explosives just added to the problem and "smart" weapons will probably make it worse for a while.

I believe you are right about the rules but it would be a rare doc who didn't sign off on a PH for wounds as serious as Cleland's

Michael Frazier

[DilJective]

Here's a pic of Murtha (I'm 99.99% sure it's him) sitting in the VFW audience while President Bush spoke awhile back. It was a headline story over at DU.

I don't think it's him- look at the rank on the hat. Murtha was a Colonel, supposedly, when he retired and I'm sure that he was an officer who looked down on NCOs.