Chellie Pingree: “A recent investigation has found that the Department of Defense has been denying Purple Heart medals for soldiers and…”

“A recent investigation has found that the Department of Defense has been denying Purple Heart medals for soldiers and marines who were injured by IEDs in Iraq. Some of these awards were denied because the injured troops received only ``minimal medical attention.'' Mr. Speaker, if you are serving our country and you are injured by the enemy, you are entitled to a Purple Heart, period. It is not something subject to interpretation by a Pentagon bureaucrat. It is not something that can or should be denied based on small print or technicalities. It is utterly outrageous that veterans who continue to pay for this sacrifice with lasting effects of brain trauma are being denied this recognition because they don't have the ``right'' kind of injury. These men and women are defending our country, and when they suffer an injury at the hands of the enemy, we owe them. We owe them appropriate recognition in the form of a Purple Heart.”