The Black Heart

I recently read the book The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. The book tells the story of many Vietnam soldiers and their experiences not only in battle, but in life before and after the war. Many soldiers die in battle, while others are wounded as well. Along with those injuries, many soldiers suffer from injuries that aren't as visible. Post-traumatic stress disorder is extremely prevalent in soldiers who have been in the Vietnam War. The events that soldiers have seen and experienced are so traumatic that it can affect the soldier months or even years after the actual incident takes place. They are haunted by nightmares and flashbacks that constantly bring them back to war. They try and find their place back in society, but nothing compares to what they experienced in Vietnam. They find themselves in a depressed state that they cannot escape. It is a horrible disorder that many men have to live with for the rest of their lives.
After having read The Things They Carried, I was shocked to find out that soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder aren't given the the Purple Heart. "Historically, the medal has gone only to those who have been physically wounded on the battlefield as a result of enemy action." Even with so many soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the Pentagon recently made the decision that soldiers suffering from the disorder do not recieve a Purple Heart, and many are very upset. The "invisible wounds" that come from post-traumatic-stress disorder aren't recognized, but injuries like a “perforated eardrum" are given the Purple Heart instead. Who is to say a soldier suffering from a broken leg has a greater struggle than one suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress disorder?
With this new decision made by the Pentagon, many have been protesting for those suffering from the disorder. The idea of a Black Heart medal has come up. This would be a medal given to soldiers who are or have suffered from post -traumatic stress disorder along with other combat stress. This way, all men injured in battle can be recognized.