218th troops back medal for Brits

Soldiers of the South Carolina's 218th Brigade Combat Team have lent their support to a London paper's campaign to honor British troops.
As hard as it may seem to be believe, the British military doesn't award a medal to personnel who've been wounded or killed in enemy action.
The Purple Heart, awarded to U.S. personnel, was instituted by the first general of the Army -- George Washington.
The Daily Mirror has taken up the cause to see that British troops receive a similar honor.

Here's the Mirror's story quoting members of the 218th:

"Sgt Brian Craft, Colonel Ed Kornish, Sgt Major Andrew Bolt and Major Bill Connor agree that the American Purple Heart medal awarded to US soldiers killed or wounded in action is seen as vital to troop morale and the families of those who die. Sgt Craft, 30, summed up their feelings by saying: "No American soldier out here can believe you guys don't already have a similar medal." Sgt Major Bolt, 42, added: "I've seen what reaction people have to the Heart in the US. I've also seen how British soldiers work out here and they really are great professionals, who lay their lives on the line."

The paper also reports that 89 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001; 174 have died in Iraq since 2003.

Check out the following link:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/ourboys/news/2008/02/19/us-troops-in-afghanistan-back-the-mirror-s-medal-campaign-89520-20324181/