Why have Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars and Silver Stars become so watered down?

Question

I do not understand why some people are getting PH for sprained ankles but not for severe concussions after being hit with an IED. I also don't understand how people who receive BS/SS for meritorious service when they never did anything considered "out of the ordinary" when there are soldiers out there taking the brunt of an IED blow or insurgent attack who simply get ARCOMS with V device for saving the rest of the crew's life and limbs. I hope someone who has been there, done that (and with a brain) can answer this!

Maybe I should have added this...my husband is in the Army, 3 rotations to Iraq. In 05, he received a Bronze Star for several reasons. To him, it is watered down because too many people receive it for doing MUCH less than what he did. He was a PSG and did some amazing things...and no, I am not being biased. The soldiers who helped him acheive the things he did also received Bronze Stars. All of them dedicated their Bronze Stars to the soldiers whose lost their lives with in the unit. As for the Purple Hearts, there were troops who got them for a minor flesh wound from a piece of shrapnel and there are some this year that suffered sprained ankles that are being put up for PHs. After looking at the orders for my husband's Bronze Star, it is signed off on and approved by the BN CO and then pushed up to BDE Level to be blessed or denied. We have soldiers that deserve so much more than what they get!

Answer 1

Apparently during Kosovo and Bosnia aircrews in Italy got Bronze Stars. That's Crap

Answer 2

The Purple Hearts are only given to soldiers who took a bullet. Bronze and Silver Stars are given to soldiers that put their lives in risk to complete the mission.

It is not the metals that makes a good soldier, it's their character and how they treat other soldiers.

If any soldiers received these metals without earning them. They will forever live their lives never knowing what the true meaning of "self-less service" really is all about.

Answer 3

there isnt an army award, medal, or tab that means a thing. when i first enlisted, i was young and was in awe of those with ranger or sapper tabs, and those who had bronze or silver stars.
after 2 deployments, i can say from personal experience, over and over and over again, that medals and awards have nothing to do with bravery, valor, or anything that actually occurs in combat. it has everything to do with rank and "office politics".
we had a private who went on over 450+ missions (sometimes 2to3 a day over 16 months), and he recieved an AAM. most of our company, E6 and below, recieved ARCOMs. all of our officers, even those who spent only a few months in country, recieved bronze stars. we have a guy in HQ, who went on less than 10 missions in over 16 months, recieve a bronze star- the same award my best 2 friends recieved when they were KIA.
When the Combat Action Award came out, i thought that finally a medal that might mean something, because you cant fake it....wrong! i was in line for chow and saw 2 cooks wearing CABs!!! they told me a mortar had hit the COP and that is how they "earned" it. that is like losing your viginity because someone had sex 10 blocks away.
i am proud to have served my country and proud of all my guys too. we can look in the mirror and at each other. we know what we did or didnt do. that is worth more than any medal some PAC clerk will win for surfing the web all year in iraq.
oh, by the way, only 9% of troops actually go outside the wire on missions. the other 91% sit on the FOB all day. not an exsageration.

Answer 4

Zippoman has absolutely no idea as to what he's talkin about. YES...people do get medals for non-heroic acts that are not really above the call of duty. YES...there is a trend/culture going on today where some commands/commanders are looking out for their own futures and careers by hooking themselves up along with those around them. Afterall...how can a Col. receive recognition if their subordinates are'nt recognixed first? hmm...and yes I have served...3 combat tours...1 gulf war...2 Iraq. And yes I do have my medals, and I'll be the first one to say that they're not worth spit anymore. It's almost shamefull.

Answer 5

Can you provide an example of somebody getting a purple heart for a sprained ankle?

When I was in Iraq the policy was that only a hospital commander can approve a purple heart. And that in order to qualify for a purple heart you had have injuries that required treatment by a medical doctor.

After I got attacked by a car-bomb I was given Motrin and ice packs - but no purple heart.

Answer 6

if no one writes it up, the medal cannot be awarded. Some commands are really good at writing up an Award recommendation and some forget to or are too busy. Also if the incident get on the news, no matter how slight the injury, those involved will get some type of medal. I had a friend who's brother was on the Jessica Lynch rescue mission. He got shot in the arm and got nothing.

Answer 7

Who got a purple heart for a sprained ankle?
You seem to be disrespecting the purple hearts earned through loss of limbs & serious injuries with the statement. BS/SS are recommended by fellow soldiers & approved through committee. Someone sounds like sour grapes do not agree with them

Answer 8

awards are for public opinion.....or rank.
all sfc and above automatically get bronze stars just for being in iraq. all silver stars in my brigade were given to ltc or higher only. i watched 2 infantry soldiers recieve arcoms for getting killed. who knows anymore.....

Answer 9

Its not about what kind of injury they get.. its about what they did to get it. geting blown up wont get you any kind of metal. but a heroic act will.