Posted on 09/29/2006 9:02:04 AM PDT by Sopater
(CNSNews.com) - A Democratic congressional candidate from Pennsylvania, allied with anti-war critic U.S. Rep. John Murtha, Wednesday insisted that in terms of the qualifications for receiving a Purple Heart in the military, "it matters not whether it's a broken toenail or a slug to the brain."
Phil Avillo, a veteran himself and candidate for Pennsylvania's 19th House District, was defending Murtha, whose past military service, especially the awarding of his two Purple Hearts, was questioned by several political opponents earlier this year. At the time, Murtha was attracting national attention for his criticism of the Bush administration's strategy in the Iraq war.
It "should make no difference what part of a soldier's body is wounded in combat," Avillo said, and those who "castigate and cheapen" the military medal are "weasels" and "snakes in the grass."
"Congressman Murtha wears proudly the Purple Heart," which "is something that people get because they put their life on the line for this country," Avillo added during a news conference in Washington, D.C.
"What difference does it make where your Purple Heart comes from?" asked Avillo, whose left leg was amputated above the knee after he was wounded in Vietnam. "A nick in the hand? A nick to your carotid artery kills you. Who's going to discriminate between wounds?"
Regardless of whether a serviceman or woman sustains "a broken toenail" or a "slug to the brain," Avillo argued, "you are equally wounded, and you have served this country proudly and well. And we have to honor all Americans who have served and all Americans who have been wounded."
Ray Funderburk, public relations director for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, told Cybercast News Service that Arvillo "took a little liberal license with the broken toenail business."
"What he's saying is that someone determined in the past that an individual merited a Purple Heart and was awarded the same, then we have to honor that," Funderburk said, though he added that "a broken toenail is kind of pushing it."
According to the organization's website, the Purple Heart "is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration."
Funderburk noted that Arvillo "was probably angry when he made those statements, and he took a little liberal license with the broken toenail business because that probably would not merit a Purple Heart."
"But I can see where he's coming from," he added. "The guy gave his leg for his country, and he's proud of his medal."
Regardless of whether a serviceman or woman sustains "a broken toenail" or a "slug to the brain," Avillo argued, "you are equally wounded"
The more we learn about Murtha, the more evident it becomes that he was always a weasel, from the get-go. He was probably born that way.
John Kerry's broken toenails were self-inflicted.
Can we all get a purple heart for wading thru all this crap?
A bogus PH is a bogus PH.
Enough with the verbal footwork.
In Murtha's case the outcome is the same.
""It "should make no difference what part of a soldier's body is wounded in combat," Avillo said, and those who "castigate and cheapen" the military medal are "weasels" and "snakes in the grass." ""--
I am SURE that when I hit the dirt I scratched myself somewhere! Can I get one? That's sarcasm.
Everyone knows how you get a purple heart. Anyone that served also knows that some people "chase" medals and awards more than worry about their people or mission. I would not be able to look in a mirror nor could I show and wear my medals with honor if like Kerry I had sustained an injury that was so superficial and upon personal initiative had forced the issue to have this award be ‘given’ to me.
At ceremonies we had people who were injured as honored guests when we redeployed. How does someone think that they deserve the same reward for a broken toenail as someone who was blinded in both eyes, can't walk right, and is married with children, as our BDE had?
Personal integrity, and 'RESPECT' for those who were truly injured should hinder someone from filing such a more or less fraudulent award.
http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/foxbradleyc.html
http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/cookeericf.html
http://www.iraqwarheroes.com/westj.htm
These are people I knew. Two of them I worked with for over a year, spoke to daily etc. How can someone wear a medal for a broken toenail when others sacrifice all? How does one rationalize that in ones own mind? To then turn this issue and accuse those questioning this behavior, to accuse them, and calling them weasels and snakes, that takes a particular type of person.
I don't care who Avillo is. I don't care what his title, degree, rank, or anything else. people like him should walk around with a paper-bag over their head so we don't need to see nor hear them anymore.
I was hit in the butt with a grain or two of rice and have peeled skin with a peeler and few worse with knives as I was a a US Army Cook. Now you can get that Purple Heart for any of the above but it must be within a combat zone and you need your Company OD as well as a Battalion OD sign off on it The way Kerry got them was he "Awarded Himself as Company Officer of the Day and then had his Sr at Battalion sign off.
Damn these democrat scum who mock our fighting men and the sacrifices they make.
In the Navy, I knew a Vietnam Veteran that had to be ordered to wear his Purple Heart ribbon. He felt it was not "heroic" to have been shot by some guy half his size that was promptly filled with 5.56mm NATO ball. He just figured he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, that it was no different than stepping in front of a moving car that you didn't see coming.
Yes, it's distasteful. I have my uncle's purple heart in the top drawer of my dresser. He was killed in the battle of Hurtgen Forest.
Politicians who recommend themselves for purple hearts so they can advance their future careers disgust me. This guy looks more and more like Jean Kerry all the time. I originally thought he was just a vet who went sour. Now I wonder about his whole career. Not because I want to tear him down or badmouth a vet, but because, like kerry, he has raised these issues himself by constantly boasting about his military career and making political hay from it.
I cut my finger, bumped my head, and got battery acid on my leg while installing a radio in a USMC LAV on Guam during Desert Storm. Do I qualify for a Purple Heart?
Is that true about Kerry?
I did not see him release his military docs- so I am
thinking this is maybe wishfull thinking?
I know his commanding officer is alive and DENIED
him his second award- know one knows how it was pushed
through-
But wasn't it actually Nurtha who confided to an associate that he may not have "earned" it? Isn't THAT enough of a standard; one's own admission?
When I was in the service we used to call them "boo-boo" injuries. Just like a little kid would say, "Mommy, I got a boo-boo!"
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