How would I request the purple heart if I know I qualify?

Question

I got hit by an IED when I was deployed back in March 2007. I had loss of conciousness and had to get airlifted out of the battle zone.

I got flown to the theater hospital and was doing good after a few hrs. I was checked out and only had a concussion. I was never put in or even cared at the time for the award. Now that I'm back home I got diagnosed with TBI. I've been having constent headaches and have real bad sensitivity to light. I know other individuals who had the exact experience as me and got put in for the award. Now that I'm feeling the affects of the TBI I think I deserve the award and wanted to get started on getting it but have no clue where to start.

Answer 1

Start with your chain of command -- immediate supervisor or reporting official, First Sergeant, Commander.

Answer 2

You don't ask for medals...

Oh wait, you're in the US army right?

Answer 3

The only way you will get that now is if you have a copy of the LOD. If your still in go threw your chain of command. If you are out, request a congressional inquiry. You can do that by emailing your senator and house representative. They move from the top down so that would get the ball rolling. I had to do this for a Soldier of mine whose paperwork got lost in the shuffle because we were at the end of our deployment and he was getting the run around. They finally tracked down the LOD and he was finally submitted for the purple heart.

By having a purple heart, you will be placed on a higher care level at the VA.

Best of luck, but like I said, you HAVE TO HAVE the LOD which states you were injured during a combat mission by an IED. Should be in your medical records.