Early Years of Conscientious Objection in American History

 Douglas N. Hornsby, MD, served in the US Army and has an extensive background in radiology. As a conscientious objector for religious reasons, Douglas N. Hornsby enlisted in the US Army but only if he could serve as a Combat Medic and did not serve with arms. He received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for Valor. Douglas Hornsby was twice wounded and awarded the Purple Heart.

Conscientious objection to military service takes a variety of forms, from those who serve with objects other than weapons to those who do not serve at all. In the early years of the United States, a majority of conscientious objectors belonged to pacifistic churches, including the Quakers, Mennonites, and Church of the Brethren. In addition, members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, while not following a strictly pacifistic belief system, refused to participate in military service.

In the Civil War, alternative service also became an option. When the first-ever legislated federal military conscription provided exemption to anyone who paid a significant amount of money, riots and debates ensued. Ultimately, a system of exemption involving alternative service for those belonging to the pacifistic churches was enacted.

Earning the Silver Star Medal

 Based in North Bay Village and Coral Gables, Florida, Douglas N. Hornsby, MD, has served as the president of multi-state teleradiology services provider Digital Radiology, Inc., since 2002. During his military career, Douglas N. Hornsby, MD, earned honors such as the Silver Star.

The Silver Star Medal (SSM) stands as the United States military’s third-highest award for valor in combat. In most cases, a Silver Star is awarded to a member of the armed forces in recognition of extraordinary actions while combating enemies of the United States. More specifically, an individual must demonstrate gallantry while engaged in action against an enemy of the country during an active military operation that involves foreign forces. That said, the SSM may also be awarded in recognition of gallantry while supporting friendly foreign forces during an armed conflict in which the US is not a belligerent force.

The award is not retrospective and is typically given in honor of singular actions taking place over a contained period. A service member who meets the Silver Star Medal criteria will not receive the medal if their actions qualify for a higher honor, such as the Distinguished Service Cross.

The SSM was first awarded in 1932, though it was established by President Woodrow Wilson as the Citation Star during WWI. It has been retroactively awarded to military service members dating back as far as 1861. Over the years, the award has been given to US Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force members.

Requirements for the Purple Heart Medal

 A Fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Douglas N. Hornsby, MD FACR, has spent more than two decades as the president of Digital Radiology, Inc., a provider of teleradiology services located in North Bay Village, Florida and Coral Gables Florida. Prior to his medical career, Douglas N. Hornsby, MD, spent 15 years in the military. He was wounded twice in combat, earning a pair of Purple Heart medals, and is a lifetime member of The Military Order of the Purple Heart.

The Purple Heart medal is a military award used to honor members of the United States armed forces who have been injured or killed in the line of duty. The distinguished military decoration is presented on behalf of the President of the United States.

There are a few eligibility criteria for the Purple Heart. To start, a service member may be eligible for the honor if they have been wounded as a result of enemy actions, directly or indirectly. Second, the wound must be of a severity that requires immediate treatment from a medical officer.

Examples of injuries that may result in a Purple Heart include gunshot and fragmentation wounds, severe concussions, and lacerations or bone fractures.