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.
"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.
