Should Desert Storm Vets who were exposed to chemical agents receive the Purple Heart?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:08:24 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 5:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:06:57 -0500

No.

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Jan 13 at 2015 5:08 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:08:51 -0500

I am one of those ODS vets who were exposed and my answer is "NO"...my good friend and brother SGT Dillion M. Young got one...he never returned alive...R.I.P.
I could never live with myself.

Response by Cpl Randy W. Kestner Jr made Jan 14 at 2015 6:15 PM

Cpl Randy W. Kestner Jr — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:15:48 -0500

Most us are already out of active service and would never see it.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 7:31 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:31:35 -0500

No. Part of the criteria for awarding the Purple Heart defines CBRN: (I don't know how to make bold so I pointed out the important statements below with asterisks)

BLUF: The chemical agent needs to have been deployed with intent to harm to qualify the victim for the PH

(4) Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:

(a) Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action.

(b) Injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap.

*****(c) Injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological or nuclear agent.

(d) Injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire.

(e) Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.

(5) Examples of injuries or wounds which clearly do not qualify for award of the Purple Heart are as follows:

(a) Frostbite or trench foot injuries.

(b) Heat stroke.

(c) Food poisoning not caused by enemy agents.

*******(d) Chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy.

(e) Battle fatigue.

(f) Disease not directly caused by enemy agents.

(g) Accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action.

(h) Self-inflicted wounds, except when in the heat of battle, and not involving gross negligence.

(i) Post traumatic stress disorders.

(j) Jump injuries not caused by enemy action.

Response by SSG Steven Gross made May 3 at 2015 8:11 PM

SSG Steven Gross — Sun, 03 May 2015 20:11:23 -0400

I burned shit pots on details at times..... No award for that shitty job. But a SSG will do what he expects his E4s and below to do....

Response by MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D. made Jun 10 at 2015 9:10 PM

MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D. — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:10:55 -0400

No to the Purple Heart, but some of us sure are dealing with many medical conditions...

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Jun 11 at 2015 5:42 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 17:42:42 -0400

If so then you would have to give those that were exposed to Agent Orange as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 5:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 17:47:13 -0400

No. Instead how about they recognize the "undiagnosed illness" from there, instead of tap dancing.

Response by SGT Denis Donovan made Jun 12 at 2015 10:05 AM

SGT Denis Donovan — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 10:05:10 -0400

No I don't think a purple heart is in order, for one we are the ones who actually exposed ourselves by blowing up that ammo dump at Khamisiyah. I do think however that the VA should cover those exposed and who are having issues. Just my 2 cents

Response by SP5 Joel McDargh made Jun 17 at 2015 10:24 AM

SP5 Joel McDargh — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 10:24:25 -0400

Veterans suffering effects of agent orange during Tours of Vietnam did not receive Purple Heart. Till that wrong is righted then I feel Desert Storm Vets should not receive it either. Makes for a double standard and hypocrisie.

Response by SSG Ernie Westby made Jul 19 at 2015 5:11 PM

SSG Ernie Westby — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 17:11:35 -0400

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jul 22 at 2015 11:52 AM

MSG David Johnson — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 11:52:58 -0400

No, not at all.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 24 at 2015 8:58 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 08:58:45 -0400

I am not sure about Purple Hearts but they should be cared for properly by the VA

Response by Sgt Ronald Bukovac made Aug 8 at 2015 1:56 AM

Sgt Ronald Bukovac — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 01:56:39 -0400

No!

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 8 at 2015 9:39 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 09:39:10 -0400

I can see no purpose in a PH for exposure to chemical agents. Better understanding and treatment of the diseases of those exposed to any chemical agents .(Agent Orange in Korea , Vietnam or the chemicals in Desert Storm.If it is a Vet and he has a problem --FIX IT--don't look for excuses.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Oct 17 at 2015 8:41 AM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 08:41:55 -0400

Service members wounded due to "friendly" fire are eligible for the Purple Heart. Service members who are victims of domestic terrorism are eligible for the Purple Heart(by recent act of congress in the case of Oklahoma City and Army policy at Fort Hood). Yet service members disabled by exposure to chemical agents released due to actions by friendly forces(i.e. Chemical sources in Desert Storm, agent Orange in RVN and Korea) are not. Had those C123's been dropping bomblets instead of droplets the troops below would have been eligible for the PH. Had troops in the Middle East been wounded when an EOD team blew up a nearby conventional munitions dump they would have been eligible as well. What is wrong with this picture?

I hold Purple Hearts due to gunshot wounds, mortar fragments and punji stakes. But the medication I take every day is not to treat those injuries but to treat the heart condition resulting from Agent Orange exposure. I grant that I may not "need" another Purple Heart for chemical exposure, but then I didn't "need" the OLC's that ended up on mine either. Need is not the point, recognition of sacrifice in the line of duty is the point.

I reckon I vote yes.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Oct 29 at 2015 10:27 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:27:36 -0400

Chemical agents you say. That is funny! We were issued these pills. Inspectable Items! Where told only to take them in an actually NBC(Chemical) attack. That once we started that we couldn't stop with out see medical over it. Well there was some explosions. After pt one day we all had to start taking them. there was a 21 day supply. We took 14 days worth. Then Stopped! yet the government says that there was no chemical attack during the war. So why in the F*&K did we take them. What did they do to our bodies. As far as the purple heart, I don't think that is a good reason if the reports that I hear is that WE blew up the stuff, to destroy them. I DO think we should be compensated and that it should a able to be turned in to the VA and they ACTUALLY recognize that it happened!

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Oct 29 at 2015 11:25 AM

CW3 Jim Norris — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 11:25:12 -0400

I would be more interested in seeing them recieve increased medical care and disability payments than the medal. But, sure why not - injury inflicted by the enemy in combat, seems to fit.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Oct 29 at 2015 11:31 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 11:31:34 -0400

No.

Response by SFC Lynn Santosuosso made Oct 29 at 2015 7:16 PM

SFC Lynn Santosuosso — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 19:16:52 -0400

I was in Desert Storm and have a letter from the DOD saying I was exposed to chemical agents when the bunkers in Khamisiyah were destroyed. But that wasn't the only exposure......
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/345123
I was at KKMC and our camp was outside Hafar al Batin.
As far as the Purple Heart? If they gave one to me, I would be ashamed to wear it. I don't consider getting on at this point in the game worth anything but the government trying to buy us off. I want to be healthy again! I went over a very healthy and fit 29 year old soldier and 25 years later I am a wheezing, hobbling broken body in constant pain. I want "me" back! I say no to a Purple Heart

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made Nov 10 at 2015 2:07 PM

SSG Donald Mceuen — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:07:55 -0500

No just want my mind and body back

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Nov 19 at 2015 1:08 PM

SSG Audwin Scott — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 13:08:53 -0500

I say no to the purple heart, but we desperately need to know if we have been affected by those agents for those whom were in theater.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 3 at 2015 12:27 PM

SSG Audwin Scott — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 12:27:07 -0500

No but some type of compensation would be great!

Response by SGT John Rice made Feb 11 at 2016 12:10 PM

SGT John Rice — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:10:52 -0500

I believe they should be, but the government would have to admit to lying about the stuff being over there. We all know the chances of that. Though the Army did send me a letter admitting that my unit was indeed contaminated by it when an ammo dump was blown up. Like we did not already know.

Response by SPC Franklin McKown made May 28 at 2016 3:28 AM

SPC Franklin McKown — Sat, 28 May 2016 03:28:53 -0400

No,I got sick from a munitions dump explosion , an experimental vaccine adjuvant and crawling all over vehicles hit with DU weapons.No reward was merited.

Response by SrA Zo Evans Sr made Jul 13 at 2017 7:17 PM

SrA Zo Evans Sr — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 19:17:05 -0400

I'm sure the smoke that a lot of us had to breathe on a daily basis should be considered " chemical exposure " since the fires were intentionally set by the enemy... just my opinion

Response by LTC John Griscom made Jan 19 at 2018 11:24 AM

LTC John Griscom — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:24:26 -0500

Only if Vietnam Vets get it for exposure to Agent Orange.

Response by SGT Jack Stevens made Jan 22 at 2018 12:36 AM

SGT Jack Stevens — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 00:36:27 -0500

This has been debated since 1991, with no real end in sight of it ever coming to fruition. As I was in a unit that got slimed, as we called it, actually had it happen twice, I don't ever see it happening.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Jun 15 at 2018 6:18 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 18:18:29 -0400

I'm gonna gateguard and say no.

Response by SFC Jimmy Arocho made Jul 17 at 2019 8:21 PM

SFC Jimmy Arocho — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 20:21:20 -0400

As the medical significance of exposure attributable to deployment in the Persian Gulf War receive continued research; this may lead to a more prudent answer to the question. I say this as I learn that clinical researchers are finding a correlation between Lou Gehrig's disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and Gulf War Illness! If Veterans of the Gulf War don't become "fully-involved" in mitigating exposure problems then we can only look to our Vietnam Era Veterans and their 50+ year exposure challenge as an example of what is coming for us...

Response by SFC Jimmy Arocho made Jul 19 at 2019 8:50 AM

SFC Jimmy Arocho — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 08:50:57 -0400

According to the VHA, Exposure attributable to the Gulf War include: Vaccines, Pyridostigmine Bromide (PB), Oil Well Fires, Pesticides, Chemical & Biological Weapons, Sand, Dust and Particulates, Depleted Uranium, Toxic Embedded Fragments, Noise, Infectious Diseases, CARC Paint, Heat Injuries, and Occupational Hazards. https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/sources/index.asp

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