Report says veterans were denied medal despite serious injuries suffered in action

Today Congresswoman Chellie Pingree sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urging him to enforce existing policies requiring the military to award the Purple Heart to service members who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, from enemy explosions.  A recent report has found that policy technicalities and bureaucratic red tape have been used to deny the medal to veterans who suffered these injuries while serving in Iraq.
 
“For decades, the Purple Heart has been one of the highest honors for a service member’s sacrifice—a solemn recognition of how they put their lives on the line for our country,” said Pingree. “It’s utterly outrageous that veterans who continue to pay for this sacrifice with lasting effects of brain trauma are being denied this recognition because they don’t have the ‘right’ kind of injury.  I don’t understand why the military would hold back when it comes to one of the most common injuries of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where IED blasts are an everyday reality for our service members.”  
 
Pingree’s letter asked Secretary Gates to reevaluate the process of awarding the Purple Heart, to enforce existing policies, and to create a plan to address or reverse decisions for veterans wrongfully denied the award.  Letter to Gates is attached.
 
The investigation by National Public Radio and ProPublica discovered that veterans with traumatic brain injuries were being denied the Purple Heart despite Army regulations stating that they should receive it. Cited reasons for denial included a veteran only receiving “minimal medical care” after the attack and that no medical provider with the rank of Officer provided care.  Documents and emails cited in the report also point to skepticism in the military about the severity of traumatic brain injury.

Listen to the story here.
 
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking to hear the stories of these injured veterans, whose families say they just aren’t the same person since surviving a blast,” said Pingree.  “Just like those who suffer bullet wounds, their injuries rightfully deserve the recognition the Purple Heart symbolizes.  Denying them the honor they are due because their injuries are on the inside instead of the outside is unacceptable and downright demeaning.” 

Letter to Secretary Gates

Dear Secretary Gates,
I write to request the Department of Defense re-evaluate the process by which
service members are awarded the Purple Heart, and to enforce existing policy that
requires the Medal be awarded to service members who suffer concussion injuries caused by enemy generated explosions, such as improvised explosive devices.

A recent investigation conducted by NPR and ProPublica discovered that despite
Army regulations requiring issuance of the Purple Heart Medal to soldiers exposed to concussion injuries caused by enemy generated explosions, many soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were denied the Purple Heart due to policy technicalities and bureaucratic red tape.

Some soldiers were denied because they received "minimal medical care" after the blast, or because no medical provider with the rank of Officer provided care after the attack. These are unacceptable answers that do not follow existing policy. The investigation highlighted that disagreement remains within the military medical community and among commanders as it pertains to service members injured by enemy generated explosives and whether or not these injuries warrant the Purple Heart.

When contacted by NPR and ProPublica, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staft: U.S. Army, acknowledged that this problem continues to exist and has asked Army
lawyers to review the policy. According to the NPR story, Gen. Chiarelli said that it is "very, very clear" that soldiers who have sustained documented concussions due to the enemy should receive the Purple Heart. With this admission, does the Defense
Department have a plan to address and possibly reverse previous decisions for veterans who were wrongfully denied this award?

As you know, Traumatic Brain Injury is a signature wound of the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. While not every service member exposed to lED blasts will suffer the
lasting consequences associated with TBI, every service member who is exposed to an enemy generated explosion and receives medical attention should receive the Purple Heart. I respectfully request you examine this policy defense wide and enforce regulations as necessary, as the article also noted that the US Army and Marine Corps have different regulations specifying eligibility.

Thank you for your commitment to the security of our nation and the work you do
on behalf of those who serve, I look forward to working with you to address this issue.

Sincerely,
Chellie Pingree
Member of Congress