Have you had injuries that could have, but didn't lead to a Purple Heart?

While in Iraq we slept on the ground...no biggie right...it wouldn't have been if I didn't have multiple parasites burrow into me...I didn't mind the F'n puss infested fissures they left on my legs and arm...but wouldn't you know it, one burrowed into my right ass cheek and made a 6" fissure leading toward my....well you get it. I lost a fair amount of my right ass cheek due to the damn infection...I still have a concave ass cheek....I didn't get a purple heart for that!!! I suppose my command couldn't prove that the Iraqi parasites were actually enemy combatants! Hahahahahah

That is the perfect envision of a leader. Not asking for what their soldiers don't get, and really and honestly doing a very deep introspective evaluation as to the reasons for why would one get it. Although in my book, if you were blown up while in your truck and or vicinity it is plausible, some injuries don't raise their ugly head until perhaps some years later (I had shrapnel cut shoulder tendons 2 years after the fact), I have seen it time and time again, not only with the purple heart but with the CIB, CAB, CMB as well. Although I have already earned some of the aforementioned awards, my pride in wearing them on daily basis is non existent. I am the one that made it, while some of my friends, and fellow soldiers didn't. Plus I am a really cheap bastard and don't want to keep adding clusters, stars whatever in the expensive activity of updating my rack at this point, it really gets expensive every time something little gets added. I will be content on getting a certificate of achievement, besides, I only use my dress blues 2-4 times a year, and during solemn occasions. I am glad you have been honest about that and I commend you for doing so.

You're not a sissy, boss. You did what you were trained to do. Ground first, then cover. Infantry school 101. I thank you for your account. I know it's not easy to talk about, but I think it is healthy, MSG (Join to see) . Tell ya a funny one. I had been back from Afghanistan for about a month...1st of 2nd day at work. Was waiting in a hallway outside the command center about o dark thirty and a huge crashing sound happened in the hallway. Thought it was incoming. I was under a table before I even thought about it. Basically I thought I was ok, because I get to work so early. After I crawled out from under the table and dusted myself off....I looked down the hall and say 2 old 'Nam vets....guys who I truly love....they were literally in the floor rolling around and laughing at me!!! They told me they had done the same thing when they first got back!!! Band of brothers indeed. Those guys are retired now and I miss them. It was an ice machine unloading it's daily load that made the noise. Sounded more like a plane crash. God bless us, everyone. Thank you for your service and blessings to your family.