Out of Purple Hearts

[Jokerswild]

Apparently the armed services have run out of Purple Hearts. This guy was wounded in 1952 and just received a letter say he was awarded a Purple Heart but they are out of stock and he can buy his own if he wants from a army surplus store. What a crock, these guy's are serving their country and getting wounded and the government can't even give them the damn medal.

Crooks and Liars » Running short on purple hearts

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

Apparently the armed services have run out of Purple Hearts. This guy was wounded in 1952 and just received a letter say he was awarded a Purple Heart but they are out of stock and he can buy his own if he wants from a army surplus store. What a crock, these guy's are serving their country and getting wounded and the government can't even give them the damn medal.

Crooks and Liars » Running short on purple hearts

ROFL! What? Dude, I'd run this thing through Snopes or something. This is preposterous... too far fetched to beleive. I mean, I know the government drops the ball at times, but this is ridiculous.

[Quakindude]

Actually, that's a fairly standard response when the military supply system has run out of medals. When I was awarded a medal in Iraq, they were out of them. I was told that I could submit a request for issue in 90-120 days or go buy my own. I did eventually get one issued to me, but it was almost 4 months later.

The way the military supply system works, they have to get within a certain percentage of using all of their current stock. Once that happens, to foster lower prices through bidding competition, it can take a while before the contract is awarded to a company to make more. Depending on how the military appropriations are going at the time, that contract can sit on someones desk for a long time before it sees funding.

Does it suck to be awarded something and not actually get the award? Not really. If it were all about awards, you wouldn't have 20+ year Soldiers in the service. As long as I have the paperwork, then I consider myself as having had it awarded.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

When I was awarded a medal in Iraq, they were out of them. I was told that I could submit a request for issue in 90-120 days or go buy my own. I did eventually get one issued to me, but it was almost 4 months later.

Well sure, getting a medal overseas can be a bit of a problem, logistics and red tape notwithstanding; been there and done that. But still, the guy spent like what, fifty years waiting on his? And he's stateside to boot. No, I have a feeling that the story, no offense Quake, is a bit over the top.

[Jokerswild]

No offense taken but this wouldn't be the first time someone waited to get the recognition. I'm sure in WWII there were quite a few who didn't get their medals right away. Just seems kind of crazy with all the money the Pentagon goes thru that they could at least make sure there's medals around for the guy's and gals that earn them.

I know that medals are not the reason people are in the military but I see that as a slap in the face more than anything. I wonder how many officers had to wait for medals?

[Stormcrow]

Hmm, I thought the US had a huge surplus of Purple Hearts from the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland during WW2?

[Dread]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

Hmm, I thought the US had a huge surplus of Purple Hearts from the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland during WW2?

I'm almost positive we've used all those up in Korea, Viet Nam, Panama, Granada, *****, ******, ****** ****, and *******. Not to mention a
few in the 1st Gulf War.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Dread

I'm almost positive we've used all those up in Korea, Viet Nam, Panama, Granada, *****, ******, ****** ****, and *******. Not to mention a
few in the 1st Gulf War.

What could you have possibly said that earned all the asteriks, bro?

[Dread]

Originally Posted by garetjax

What could you have possibly said that earned all the asteriks, bro?

Classified operations you may, or may not be privy too ;)
(self censored)

[othman11]

I do know that some WWI vets waited almost 70 years for there medals. This was due to the records center in St. Louis burning in the 70's. I a couple of cases, it wasn't till the French awarded the last of the WWI vets the Legion de Honor / de Chevalier in the 90's, that they were finaly given there US medals.

This was becuse of the time it took to rebuild there files?