Politics. On Point.

On February 15, 2013 President Obama awarded average citizens, doing the extraordinary for country and community, with the highest honor that a president can bestow to a citizen. Among them was veteran Adam Burke .  Burke was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder after saving a comrade from a mortar blast in Iraq's Sunni Triangle - for which he received a Purple Heart. Said President Obama of Adam: " When Adam Burke returned from Iraq, he had more than earned the right to just focus on himself. He had served our nation with honor; a recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds he received while rescuing a comrade from enemy fire. Because of the shrapnel that tore through his head and his legs –- when Adam came home, he came home a wounded warrior, suffering from a traumatic brain injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But a few years later, Adam found himself back on the family farm, and he noticed that working the land was therapeutic. ...

Awards Purple Heart medals During his nearly three hour visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesday, Maryland today, President Obama met with 38 wounded service members – 21 Soldiers, 13 marines, 2 Sailors and 2 Airmen.  (Names not readily identified). OccupyDC protestor in front of Dept of Commerce building last week with message opposing the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Photo/CD Brown. Thirty-five of the service members were injured in Afghanistan and 3 were injured in Iraq.  While at the hospital, the President awarded 4 purple hearts .  Since the war began some ten years ago 46,542 service members have been wounded in connection with Afghan and Iraqi wars. Through last Thursday, the number of wounded by war zone in Afghanistan  is now 14,342.   In Iraq, 31,921 .  In the Middle East (Op. New Dawn), 279,  the Pentagon reports. It is safe to say, yet again, let's end this war....