Does a Veteran injured with a brain injury from a road side bomb deserve a Purple Heart?

DAMN RIGHT

Quick answer One: Of course, he's entitled.

Quick Answer Two: Light up you House of Representatives Member.

I was burned because a Vietnamese that we were training [47 years ago] dropped a lit cigarette into mortar increments [highly flammable] and took out the entire command group [five men] of our Mortar Platoon. He was the only one, of about six Vietnamese, that ran. He was killed by our gunfire after he got about 100 meters out into the paddy.

The Army said it was an accident because he was, on paper, one of ours. I think it was a "hit".

I have just recently begun to get another reading on it from the Army. I will submit my inquiry to the Army and carbon-copy my House of Representatives member with names, addresses and phones of whoever I talked with.The Army initially sent back some medical records that weren't mine, either part of a delaying tactic or incompetence.

Good luck. Pray.

I was injured in Afghanistan by an IED explosion just as the service member in question. I did not suffer any blood injuries, but did have numerous medical issues that resulted in getting reccommended for a Purple Heart. My unit of assignment failed to properly follow through with the paperwork (We were attached to a larger unit & therefore our specialty team was treated as bastards). Long story short, I received a copy of the DA 4187 & the sworn statements just as I was being shipped out for medical treatment. I later resubmitted the sworn statements, a new 4187, my statement, and a photo of the actual incidente.

I received my Purple Heart.

I believe so...

What if the soldiers records show nothing??? My son served TWO tours in Iraq as a Calvary Scout with TWO different units. No CAB from first unit- he most definitely saw combat- and discharged immediately upon return from deployment with second- enlistment was up. He had FOUR concussions while in Iraq from IED's with the second unit. His medical records while deployed show nothing...they were "lost" He had numerous blood clots removed from his head at VA, 2 years after discharge, and VA confirmed TBI and PTS.

He deserves the Purple Heart and probably then some! He without a doubt should receive it, if not take it to the next level just like when we served, go through the "chain of command." I would suggest keep climbing that chain until he gets what he deserves and then break the chain off if need be to get what he is due!!

I have great respect for those getting injured in combat. Some of my hard core friends also have private thoughts on some of those "injuries". Anytime anyone is significantly injured while serving active duty should be recognized - while PHM is reserved for combat theaters, it has also now been issued Stateside because of an act of terrorism. Others who were not in a combat theater who sustained serious injury should be given a separate recognition, if only to assist later on with interminable combat with the Veterans Benefits Administration - which also developed another cause of PTSD.

In my book he is. Soldiers have received Purple Hearts for far less combat injuries. During WW II soldiers, especially officers, would cut themselves as their plane flew over a combat zone in order for them to get a Purple Heart.

Hell Yes ! You earned the right to the medal. Always put in for anything you think you are entitled or believe you might be entitled. That includes medal, VA disability compensation, and other VA benefits like vocational training, housing adaptation, clothing for a disability, etc. Check with your state for their unique benefits such as disability parking license plates and/or placards, free admissions to state parks, etc.
You can check anytime you think you are eligible for further benefits for any reason.
My late stepfather never put in for VA stuff despite being a reserve Navy Capt in the Merchant Marines. He had all sorts of medical issues during his career and after he retired. He was called to active service for WWII, Korea, Lebanon, Suez Crisis, Korea, Haiti, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam. Oh, forgot Formosa. He had decades exposed to asbestos in ships enginering spaces,too. He thought "his money" should go to other vets

I found that a really interesting question, honest...I've obv got zero clue to suggest beyond what others here far more knowledgeable and/or experienced might offer (I never deployed, I'm afraid), other than to of course send everything to all three Congress ofcs for him, as well as maybe submit the whole thing to the Army BCMR, or whatever it's called now, as well as seek out the major vet groups and/or law school vet law clinics (just an idea, I'm sure that obv must've occurred to you as well, certainly)...I just mention that as, typically, in stuff I've read, things like that involving retroactive decorations often need correction boards to fix, I've gathered...though, as others also point out here, if properly documented, one would certainly tend to think so, as also mentioned elsewhere on here, at least to my mind, by all means...honestly, I have nothing to suggest beyond that, truly, I'd just figured to send that, merely to offer those thoughts for whatever good they might be, if nothing else, that's all, honest....