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After receiving an email from Charles Quinlan US Army Veteran that was injured while serving in Iraq i was very concerned about his situation and felt that me and my brother should do some research to see what we could dig up on the internet on the subject. And we found some content that served as a good reference point for this issue. Please read the circumstances of this soldiers information about what took place and then review the facts for yourself in this matter.
In my opinion there is no excuse to become too technical in matters like this soldiers should be acknowledged for their bravery and be rewarded accordingly. No matter what all soldiers that serve for this great Nation should receive more respect and consideration than they receive. That includes everyone in our Nation as we owe our way of life to these our finest men and women our country has to offer.
That is my opinion on the matter.
Sincerely, David
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Hello,
My name is Charles Quinlan. I am a US Army Veteran (Sergeant/E-5) in which I served six years, seven months and twenty-eight days on active duty stationed at Fort Stewart, GA (3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Military Police Battalion, 549th Military Police Company) as a team leader. I am writing this letter because I was denied the Purple Heart by my battalion commander.
This is my story.
During March 2003 my unit (3rd ID, 3rd Bat, 549th MP Co) was deployed to Kuwait for preparation of the Iraqi War. During that same month as you know, we invaded Iraq with full force. Once my unit reached Baghdad, Iraq we were reassigned to the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment in Sadar City, Baghdad, Iraq. Everyday we ran joint mission with the 2nd ACR such as raids, convoys, reconnaissance and sweeps. My team and I had been very lucky up until July 4, 2003 when my squad received sniper fire. I called out the location of the sniper which was on the roof of a school and since we were in the kill zone our squad drove towards the sniper and returned fire. (Normally I would have been in the team leaders seat but since it was the Forth of July we gave most of the platoons lower enlisted the day of and all the NCO's went on this mission. I had elected to be the gunner of the lead vehicle.) As I was returning fire using the SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon, 5.56), the weapon jammed. I tried using corrective actions but it would work so I continued firing firing my M-4 Carbine Rifle.
Because I was using this weapon, I had nothing to stabilize myself while in the turret. The driver hit a curb and I was thrown back and hit my neck on the gunner's shield. When I hit my neck I felt some pain but it was bearable. We continued the mission then headed back to Camp Marlboro (our base camp). I told the medic what had happened and she gave me some Motrin to take away the pain. Two days later I went on a R&R with nine other soldiers to the Green Zone for a few hours. We swam Saddam's pool. It was then that I really felt the pain in my neck and right arm. About two hours later I was unable to moved my right arm and the pain was so severe that I begging to do something fast. After weeks of treatments, such as oral steroids and pain medications, I was sent home on August 8, 2003 for further analysis. (I was told by my neurosurgeon that many times when you have trauma injury, the signs and symptoms may not show up for a day or two especially when you have a very strong adrenaline. For example, a soldier may not know he has been shot until after a fire fight because basically he doesn't feel it. Dr. Daniel Suh, Ph.D., M.D. of the Neurological Institute of Savannah, Georgia)
It turned out that when I was returning fire to the sniper and hit my neck on the gunner's shield, I injured the C-6 and C-7 vertebrate and the nerves within them which control the right shoulder and arm. During the time prior to me coming home, my right arm became partially paralyzed and I required corrective surgery to regain movement in my right arm and comfort in my right shoulder and neck.
The reason why I need your help is because I did not receive a Purple Heart for this injury. I was told that it was not a combat injury but a combat mishap because I was in a vehicle and basically did not have any external injuries. My injury was severe and every day I still live with the pain in my neck and arm. I have already had an additional operation to take some of the pain away but I was told by my neurosurgeon that this would be an ongoing injury and the pain will probably never go away. I have Degenerative Disk Disease. I was medically discharged on February 13, 2005 for this injury. I was seen as unfit to continue military service. I served my country to the best of my abilities and I wish everyday I was back in the army to fight side by side with my brothers in arms.
Sincerely,
Charles Daniel Quinlan
I have a friend that knew someone who is affiliated with MOPH and he is in contact with him now. My deepest sympathies to you Charles and i pray that you receive what you deserve. God Bless You
Here is what we found for information please click the links to review the facts.
See links below.
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/correcting-records.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Heart
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Heart#Criteria
4. Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:
(a) Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action.
(b) Injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap.
(c) Injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent.
(d) Injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire.
(e) Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.
For any soldier that may find themselves in a similar situation should try their CO 1st then try other organizations like MOPH and other groups that are active about these sorts of issue's. We are not attorney's nor should our advise be used as anything other than an opinion or advise.
If anyone would like to assist Charles please contact me and i will forward the emails to him. Thanks for your Support
Last resort requests
Some veterans who have exhausted all available sources, often still feel that they should be awarded a Purple Heart, even if there are no records of the decoration. In such cases, service members may appeal directly to the military service department by way of a Defense Department Form 149, which requests an official change to military records. Usually, if the 149 is denied by the service department, there is nothing more a veteran can do and will not be awarded the Purple Heart. In some cases, however, veterans have been recommended for the Purple Heart, after the fact, by a United States Senator or Congressman. Such cases are treated as brand new award recommendations and the process for presenting the Purple Heart begins again with a review of records and interview of witnesses to the action in which a service member was wounded.
http://usaveteransupport.com/VA_pdf/Military%20Forms/DD_149.pdf
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