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

Often these situations can be difficult but that is intended to protect the integrity of the award. I suggest the following.

Read the detailed information the official Army HRC website

https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/purple%20heart

Read MILPER Measage 11-125. (This more exclusively covers MTBI and concussions). This is not the Army's website but is a state gov. This has better instructions for veterans where as the HRC website is more for active duty.

http://www.maine.gov/dvem/bvs/mtbi/Milper-Message-2011-125.pdf


.

If they did not, given the scientific understanding that we have now of head injuries, it would simply be a bureaucratic means of cost saving that I personally find disgusting.

Yes they do deserve the Purple Heart, It's COMBAT.

If it was in Iraq he should have received the award. But it's going to need the date, location time of blast with medical documents saying he was seen that day or in the next couple days for a concussion

PO2 Mark Saffell,
If he doesn't qualify for a Purple Heart I don't know why not! And now I see the Purple Heart threads over here on the right. I'll certainly go look but are they related to your son-in-law?
Thanks,
Rick

Since he is now a veteran, I would call your Senator. They have people on staff to help you. This is the kind of thing they are eager to do because they get a great photo op out of presenting the medal when it is approved.

Cynical? Yes, but probably very true.

I received 2 PHM'S during my 18 months in Vietnam and I say absolutely, without any doubt.

He should definitely be awarded it, but it should have been put up by his unit at the time. It's not too late, and both the original unit or a higher echelon can correct it and put in the award.

http://www.purpleheart.org/Downloads/Bank/ServiceProgram/MissingDocumentsAndMedalProcedures.pdf. Include copies of all VA medical records documenting his TBI. Good luck and be patient.

Of Course. I new guys who got shot in the butt in Nam while in the latrine get purple hearts.