Topic: The Day I Got My Purple Heart
started by: GEOKARJO
Posted by GEOKARJO on Dec. 30 2003,8:06 pm
< http://www.pjsinnam.com/VN_History/Stories/Miracle%20Mission.htm >It took 6 years to get it. Cause someone lied about injuries. My medical records were reviewed in 1978 and was awarded it as I left the military.
Posted by Lil Pimp on Dec. 30 2003,8:56 pm
Thanks for serving the US of A GEO. The greatest country in the world.
Posted by Madd Max on Dec. 30 2003,9:22 pm
Thanks Geo for all you have done. 
Posted by minnow on Dec. 30 2003,9:46 pm
6 years? Hell, my Paw got 2 purple hearts and a whole slew of others! All he wanted was one medal that he'd lost somehow and President Bush's office sent him all 9! Now he has 2 of most of his medals. Either they're giving them out like water or their making sure WW2 vets get them before they pass on to the happy hunting grounds.
Posted by guest on Dec. 31 2003,10:01 am
What does that story have to do with you getting a purple heart? You are not mentioned in the story and nobody was even injured?? And since purple hearts are only given for injuries sustained in combat then nobody in that story should have received one.| Quote |
By 1850 hours, the operation was over. Everybody was safe at Da Nang. But the most incredible part of the story was just being realized. Not one crewmember or evacuee sustained any injury whatsoever! Moreover, there was not one bit of battle damage to any helicopter! Not even a single bullet hole! |
Posted by minnow on Dec. 31 2003,10:21 am
My father was permantly disabled from a gunshot wound.Geo just wants to feel like a hero...whatever makes him feel good...
My father is the true hero and he and I spend our lives protecting society from all the other Geo's out there.
Posted by GEOKARJO on Dec. 31 2003,12:48 pm
This is where I am mentioned| Quote |
| Grouped in the Citadel, a walled military compound in the middle of Quang Tri proper, were 80 American advisors, and several members of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). There was only one way out—by helicopter. |
I had been injured prior to the evac
| Quote |
| Quang Tri was now surrounded by four North Vietnam Army (NVA) divisions. The enemy had cut Highway 1, the only escape route south to safety, and had been pounding Quang Tri with artillery, mortars, and rockets for several weeks. |
It was 80 americans 50 Arvn many of us was wounded and fighting for several weeks. I call that combat.
Quang Tri City I and II (1972). An objective of the North Vietnamese 1972 winter-spring offensive was the capture of Quang Tri, the northernmost major city in South Vietnam. The NVA overwhelmed the Army, Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) defenders (I). Later, the city was recaptured (II) by a smaller ARVN force using extensive artillery and air support. The large conventional forces involved on both sides made Quang Tri I and II the major urban battles of the Vietnam War. (Length of battle: Quang Tri I, 6 - 13 days; Quang Tri II, 30 days or greater) (Casualties: battles combined, 30,000+)
Posted by GEOKARJO on Dec. 31 2003,2:48 pm
We fought in VietnamThe land that God forgot
The mountains high, the rivers dry, the sun is
Blazing hot.
We cleaned a million rifles
And twice as many guns
And when we found a little time
We did the work not done
Early morn' that unforgettable day
We moved out in full force
We never forgot to pray
By sun up on that May day
We knew the battle was on its way
When all was done and the smoke had cleared
Those left saw the color they had feared
Red all over I could hear, pink mist was everywhere
From front to rear
We fought in mud and blazing heat
1000 enemy lay dead at our feet.
For all my brothers who died at Quang Tri
You fought so bravely for us to be free.
Let all America know, it will always be free
As long as we have Veterans, like at the
Battle of Quang Tri.
Posted by Frustrated on Dec. 31 2003,4:12 pm
So Geo - tell me again why we should be proud - why were we there and what did we accomplish?
Posted by GEOKARJO on Dec. 31 2003,4:17 pm
United States involvement started in 1958 I was 5 years old you tell me. All I know is I love my country and would give my life to defend it.
Posted by Frustrated on Dec. 31 2003,5:04 pm
I guess I never saw vietnam as defending the US. Your poem said those who died at Quang Tri faught so bravely for us to be free. Seems more like they died for nothing. I don't think there ever was any threat to our freedom. Then the U.S. pulled out and S. Vietnam went communist anyway. Should have sent the fu@%ing politicians over there to fight it themselves 
Posted by irisheyes on Dec. 31 2003,6:11 pm
Regardless whether it was 4000 miles from our border or not, it was a fight against communism. At that time, they were worried if South Vietnam fell, the rest of Asia would follow, and then it might lead to us. It didn't happen that way, but that's the arguement I would give to someone who didn't think that they were fighting for us...As for minnow with all this "whose the biggest hero" crap, Geo or your dad? Who cares, since when did it become a competition anyway. I think anyone who is a combat veteran of a foreign war is a hero, as long as they were really in combat (no reporters, or conscientious observers, or desk jockey's).
Posted by GEOKARJO on Jan. 01 2004,10:10 am
My poem reflects the fact as in the story we where surrounded by by 4 divisions, 20,000 troops but we fought for 30 days and nights one company 500 men only 80 of us survived.
Posted by BeBack on Jan. 12 2004,10:34 am
I just saw that they are recalling Marine Reservist to send them back to Iraq. It looks like our current military staffing is quite short. Does any body think Bush will be able to hold off on bringing back the Draft. If it were to come back, how unpopular would it be with those who were called to serve? Minnow need not respond.
Posted by jimhanson on Jan. 12 2004,11:41 am
I think the reinstitution of the draft would be a positive thing for the country--but I would rather see some type of UNIVERSAL service (like the Swiss or Scandanavian systems) rather than the lottery system. The lottery system leads to resentment of the country ("just my bad luck") rather than unifying it.The universal service should include EVERYBODY. It would take kids right out of high school--there could be a case for DEFERRMENT, but not evasion. Tie it to educational benefits--a "win-win" situation. The country gets the manpower needed, EVERYBODY participates (I've never been comfortable with the idea of paying a guy to get shot at--it was allowed in the Civil War, and isn't right now), there is a sense of UNITY in the country that is sorely needed, kids get a taste of REALITY and the real world before going off to college, the kids get money towards higher education, and the country gets a more educated electorate.
Posted by GEOKARJO on Jan. 12 2004,12:50 pm
I do not believe in the draft I believe it should be a last resort.The draft opens the military into accepting drug addicts and objecters of the wars. Also more don't ask, don't tell situations. I believe we have plenty of good strong patriotic flag waving americans left, willing to serve and answer the nations call.
Posted by BeBack on Jan. 12 2004,1:09 pm
It was my experiance that draftees made the military work. Conscription would also make the President and the congress more accountable to the people for their planned military incursions. When it is a group of volunteers fighting fewer people care about the cause being rightous, that is why Nixon needed a volunteer Army to continue the Veitnam War. It wasn't the draftees that we were discharging early for misconduct during Vietnam, the greatest majority were ones the courts forced to enlist or go to jail.
Posted by jimhanson on Jan. 12 2004,1:17 pm
When the draft was instituted in the Civil War, a wealthy man could pay someone else to take his place. That's not right, but it's not too far from paying a military to protect us. Look at the number in the military today that say "I joined up for college money--not to get shot at". There's NO amount of money most people would take for that job--patriotism helps, but as we saw in Vietnam, if EVERYBODY isn't on board--if people question your motives--patriotism flags.With obligatory public service (not necessarily in the military), there ARE things that conscientious objectors CAN do. Drug addicts--yeah, we had them in the military--but there was also PEER PRESSURE--somebody stoned out of their mind and couldn't be trusted in the unit soon was whipped into shape--not by the military, but by the guys who might have to depend on that person. Nobody minded recreational use--but no going overboard.
I think it would be good for the country, good for kids looking for money for education, and good for those who need some "guidance".