[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 61 (Monday, April 3, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E756]]
 LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART IN INCIDENTS 
            OF FRIENDLY FIRE DURING PEACEKEEPING ACTIVITIES

                                 ______


                          HON. JULIAN C. DIXON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, April 3, 1995
  Mr. DIXON. Mr. Chairman, today I am introducing legislation to award 
the Purple Heart posthumously to members of the Armed Forces killed on 
April 14, 1994, in a friendly fire incident in the northern Iraqi ``no 
fly'' zone. Fourteen American service members on peacekeeping duty were 
killed when two American F-15C fighter aircraft accidently shot down 
two United States UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in northern Iraq. Mrs. 
Kaye Mounsey, the widow of Army WO Eric Mounsey--a pilot of one of the 
helicopters--resides in Culver City in my congressional district.
  I believe that recognizing the sacrifice of these members of the 
Armed Forces is the appropriate thing to do. While the loss of a 
husband, brother, sister, or child can never be compensated, it is 
essential that we acknowledge the Nation's gratitude for the ultimate 
sacrifice that these Americans gave in service to their country.
  Following the tragedy last April, the services had decided that the 
incident did not meet criteria for award of the Purple Heart--citing 
the accidental nature of the shoot down and the noncombat situation in 
the ``no fly'' zone.
  However, language was included in last year's Department of Defense 
appropriations conference report which urged the Secretaries of the 
Army and the Air Force to review their decision and award the Purple 
Heart or other medal of distinction to service members killed over 
northern Iraq. The deadline for reporting back to Congress on this 
matter was March 31, 1995.
  We have yet to hear from the military regarding this matter, and, as 
a result, I am introducing this bill to ensure award of the Purple 
Heart for members of the Armed Forces killed or wounded due to friendly 
fire while engaged in peacekeeping activities. I feel very strongly 
that if the services deem that the situation under which these 
Americans were killed did not merit the award, then the criteria for 
the medal should be modified.
  As the role and complexity of U.S. Armed Forces missions have 
evolved, the criteria for award of the Purple Heart should reflect that 
evolution. In 1993 Congress included criteria in statute to ensure 
award of the Purple Heart in incidents of friendly fire in combat 
situations. This legislation would amend the law to include 
peacekeeping missions in that criteria, with an effective date of 
January 1, 1994--ensuring award of the Purple Heart to service members 
killed in the Iraqi friendly fire incident.


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