Pine Bluff Post: Purple Heart Day
Published August 1, 2019
On August 7, 1782, General George Washington - then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army - established the Purple Heart award, originally designated as the Badge of Military Merit.
The Purple Heart exists in its current form since 1932, and is awarded to service members "wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces".
During World War II, almost 500,000 Purple Heart medals were produced in anticipation of the huge number of casualties estimated to result from the planned Allied invasion of Japan. The invasion never happened due to the dropping of the atomic bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In fact, the total combined casualties of the sixty-five years following the end of World War II - including the Korean and Vietnam Wars - have not exceeded that number, so the Purple Heart medals awarded today are part of that stock.
As of 2010, a total of over 1,900,000 Purple Hearts have been awarded in our nation's history - over 35,000 to service members for wounds sustained in the Iraq War and over 7000 for the war in Afghanistan.1
All soldiers know that the Purple Heart is given to those who are wounded or killed while fighting in the nation's wars. Most also know that those who are injured or die in terrorist attacks are eligible to receive the decoration, too. What most soldiers, and most Americans, do not realize, however, is that the Purple Heart is a unique military award. First, it is the oldest U.S. military decoration; General George Washington awarded the first purple-colored heart-shaped badges to soldiers who fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Second, until World War II, the Purple Heart was exclusively an Army decoration and, with rare exceptions, only soldiers received it; the Navy and Marine Corps lacked the authority to award it to sea service personnel. Finally, the Purple Heart is the only decoration awarded without regard to any person's favor or approval; any soldier, sailor, airman or marine who sheds blood in defense of the nation is automatically awarded the Purple Heart. What follows is a history of this unique decoration and some of its soldier recipients.2, 3
Special Recipient:
Heat, humidity, and a jungle so dense you couldn't even see through the miles of the ten-foot tall elephant plants. This was Tamky Vietnam in 1968. The world that a young Barry Gasdek was dropped into was worlds away from his home in Pittsburg, and not just in miles.
When Lieutenant Colonel Gasdek looks back on his time in Vietnam what he seems to remember the most besides the heat, was being unbelievably soaking wet and thirsty all the time. He was stationed in a country that was as unfamiliar as it could get, and was on constant alert for enemy combatants. As the Company Commander for the 4th Battalion 4/21 Infantry 11th Light Infantry Brigade, Gasdek had about 140 young men under his command, 35 of those young men were either killed or wounded.
As Gasdek's men moved west of Da Nang through the Second Infiltration NVA Route from Laos, "All hell broke loose." Said Gasdek and he found himself wounded by an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG). In the hospital they removed as much of the shrapnel as they could. Gasdek was left with wounds to his legs and back. He had to have his biceps attached back to his arms, and has since had to have both hips replaced, but although it would earn him a Purple Heart, it would not earn him a trip home. Gasdek spent almost two years in Vietnam before he was able to go home.
Upon accepting a position as a Professor of Military Science at the University of Wyoming, Gasdek found himself in a part of the country that he would grow to love and call home. Around 2013 Gasdek was asked to be an Army Reserve Ambassador and still serves as such. With a deep respect for his fellow men and women in uniform Gasdek still looks for ways to serve his country.
Fast forward to today, retired Lieutenant Colonel Gasdek has made peace with his past, and settled in Laramie, Wyoming where the hunting is as good as anyone could hope. Gasdek was selected by the National Purple Heart Honor Mission to represent Wyoming in the inaugural Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission #1. Gasdek will be flown to the Military Academy West Point, historic Washington's headquarters, and a "Welcome Home" celebration where he will visit the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and add his story to the kiosk there forever placing his actions in the annals of history.
Gasdek is honored to be chosen for this first trip and hopes that it will be something that catches on so that future combat wounded veterans will be able to add their stories to the kiosk as well. "I think it's a real honor...It's nice to find later in life, people who appreciate the things that you've done even if you yourself didn't appreciate them at the time." Stated Gasdek.
Although history doesn't always reflect the support we should have for our troops, men and women like Lieutenant Colonel Barry Gasdek should forever be admired for the sacrifices that they have made.
While there are several Purple Heart recipients in the Pine Bluffs area, some do not want to talk, or tell their story. This is understood and we thank them for their service.