[StBernard] Navy to vet: Buy your own Purple Heart

[Westley Annis]

Seventy-five-year-old Nyles Reed, a Korean War veteran, was sent a form
letter from Navy Personnel Command saying that he was awarded a Purple Heart
for injuries he received during that war, but instead of sending him the
medal, he got a certificate and a letter telling him they were out of stock
and that he could buy the medal himself
<http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5061221.html> .

	"I can imagine, of course, with what's going on in Iraq and
Afghanistan, there's a big shortage," Reed said. "At least, I would imagine
so."
	
	The form letter from the Navy Personnel Command told Reed he could
wait 90 days and resubmit an application, or buy his own medal.
	
	After waiting 55 years, however, Reed decided to pay $42 for his own
Purple Heart and accompanying ribbon -- plus state sales taxes -- at a
military surplus store.
	
	

Now that's pretty sad...
Jim