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Concussions, Mild Brain Injury May Land You A Purple Heart

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Since the Trojan Wars soldiers have been getting clocked in combat. I suspect that thousands of the men who fought in the trenches in World War l and ll were knocked silly with blast injuries from which they never recovered nor were ever known for the permanent damage done to the neurological system.

If Grampa sat in his rocking chair a bit long, sipping whiskey and staring into space, he was very likely the victim of a serious concussion.

Now, both the Army and Marine Corps have adopted criteria to give consideration for the awarding of a  Purple Heart if a soldier/Marine experience a concussion on the battlefield.

Mild traumatic brain injuries caused by a blast or blow to the head can now qualify for a Purple Heart if the Medical Officer in charge determines that the combatant is not fit for duty for more than 48 hours as a result of lingering symptoms. The decision must be made withing seven days of the battlefield occurrence.

The Marine Corps announced the criteria in Marine Administrative Message 245/11 on April 15th. The revised memorandum states that no longer is a loss of consciousness the sole criteria.

This change is retroactive to the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism that began on September 11.2001

Marines, including veterans, whose medical records show that a prior mild traumatic brain injury was caused by enemy action since September 11, 2001 may submit a claim via the administrative chain of command.

The award criteria can be found at “http://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/MARADMIN245-11.aspx/. “

Submit your request to “Commandant of the Marine Corps (MMMA) Headquarters Marine Corps, 3280 Russel Road, Quantico, Va. 22134-5103

Members of the U.S. Army  can call 888-276-9472

The advances that have been made by way of military medicine are stunning. This decision to award a Purple Heart for TBI is the right thing to do, as the complications from head injuries are for life and often much more intrusive than a scar from a bullet or shrapnel.

I know, I had two of them, and always felt sad and a bit isolated by the fact that my injuries never seemed to count, even though I have been compromised by them for 42 years.

6 thoughts on “Concussions, Mild Brain Injury May Land You A Purple Heart”

  1. While in Iraq my son had an IED go off a few feet from his Humvee. (155mm Soviet artilery shell). It melted the tires and caved in the side of the vehicle. He was in the top gunner position, exposed. The blast threw him to the side then down ito the vehicle. His fellow soldiers were also tossed around but not woulded. He had large shrapnel skipping off of his back armor and his helmet.
    He had a facial wound from the rock debris hitting the side of his face. Bandaged and he went to work the next day.
    His Sgt wanted to put him in for a Purple Heart. He refused because the word among the soldiers there was that the Purple Hearts are, “for the guys in Walter Reed”.

    1. God bless your son for serving Fraser. And I surely do understand the male psyche when it comes to wounds. The corporate culture of the Armed Forces sort of trains us that way. Tons of men in my Company in Nam had shrapnel wounds but would not accept Purps. Of course the officers did. We sort of prided ourselves on this machismo.  The Marine Corps had a category too, called “WIANE.” Wounded in Action Not Evacuated.”
      But with all do candor. A Quad can still go to College. A soldier with seriously TBI may never be able to learn the same way again for his or her entire life. You cannot put loss of memory and an internal sense of  identity in a wheel chair. It is unseen but eternal. That is certainly a wound.

  3. Mike:

    Hope you run an article about the Southlawn Memorial Day Service. There will be a flyover by Az Air National Guard, Marine Corp League Honor Guard ( I bet you are in it!) and the Museum of the Horse Soldier’s Mounted Memorial Color Guard (in 1930’s Cavalry uniforms). Southlawn has a press release they can send you. Call 520-295-8407 Thought you would like to know.
    God Bless out troops.

    1. I will do that Fraser. Terry Byron works for Southlawn and just happens to be the Adjutant for the Marana Marine Corps League; Nighthawk 72 Detachment where I am a charter member. Thanks for the complimentary notion that I  might be in the Color Guard. Can’t be a member if you have a beard!

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