Alexander Vindman Image by Getty/Chip Somodevilla/Staff

By PJ Grisar November 22, 2019

Did you hear about how Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, the decorated Jewish war hero, childhood refugee and damning witness in the Trump impeachment probe received his Purple Heart?

For a moment in GQ magazine, the cause was depicted as quite a private matter, thank you very much.

Every so often corrective italics at the end of an article present an item more amusing than maddening. Such was the case with a GQ article about Vindman that incorrectly stated he had been awarded his Purple Heart after being wounded by an IUD, or intrauterine device, rather than an IED, an improvised explosive device. Below is a screengrab of the the full correction:

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A+ correction pic.twitter.com/LveoknpEkG

— Jake Maccoby (@jdmaccoby) November 22, 2019

Hey, we’re all human and mistakes happen. (Although IUDs are typically used to prevent a particular kind of mistake while IEDs are designed to cause horrific harm.)

Here is how Twitter is reacting to this explosive typo:

My IUD perforated my uterus and caused anemia and crippling pain. The military docs gave me Motrin, not a medal. (Lt. Col. Vindman is still a hero, this is just a crazy typo.) https://t.co/LTepgMD4Hd

— Pouncy (@_manywaters_) November 22, 2019

I can attest to IUDs being *extremely painful* but not quite the same thing as an explosive device. My latest for @MilDefInsider https://t.co/mU0aFtwqax

— Ellen Ioanes (@girlstothefront) November 22, 2019

I was wounded by an IUD during my service to the patriarchy. It hurt more than any other cut, bone break, or labor. I think if Vindman had an IUD he might not like it either (and me vice versa). Thank you for your service and testimony Lt. Col. Vindman. ⭐️ #byebyeElise https://t.co/rYGZUZWe8H

— cat (@cathode5) November 22, 2019

While the error is certainly worth a chuckle, it’s done some good too, allowing physicians and patients an opportunity to chime in on the complications of a common procedure.

PJ Grisar is the Forward’s culture fellow. He can be reached at [email protected]

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