The Purple Heart: Recognition for the Common Soldier Recognition for the Common Soldier Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters Thanks, You're in! Health Tip of the Day Sign up There was an error. Please try again. Please select a newsletter. Please enter a valid email address. Did you mean ? US Military Updated January 25, 2016. The Purple Heart, the oldest military decoration in the world still in use, is awarded to those wounded or killed as a result of engaging the enemy while serving in the U.S. military. It was the first American award available to the common soldier. Gen. George Washington created its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, in 1782. It was a heart cut from purple cloth and edged with lace. It fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War but was revived in 1932 to commemorate the bicentennial of Washington’s birth, on orders from Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Today’s medal bears the likeness of Washington on an enameled purple heart, edged in brass and topped with Washington’s family crest and flanking leaves. It is suspended from a purple ribbon with white borders.

The back of the medal bears the inscription “For Military Merit” and repeats the Washington crest. continue reading below our video What You Need to Consider Before Changing Jobs In 1952, President Harry S. Truman extended the award retroactively to fighters in World War I. A decade later, President John F. Kennedy made it available to civilians wounded while serving in some capacity with the U.S. armed forces. That option was withdrawn in 1998 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Recipients don’t have to be recommended for the Purple Heart, as they do for several other military honors. They must be able to document treatment by a medical officer for an injury sustained while attacking or being attacked by hostile forces. Injuries from friendly fire and self-inflicted wounds count, so long as the accident took place while targeting the enemy. The Purple Heart also can be awarded to those wounded while being held as a prisoner of war, during a terrorist attack, or as a result of military operations while serving as a peacekeeper. Post-traumatic stress disorder and symptoms related to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War don’t qualify. Those wounded more than once may pin extra oak-leaf clusters to their Purple Heart.

The medal is approved by a person's chain of command, or a hospital commander, and a formal ceremony is held. Related Articles Purple Heart Medal | Medals of America Home > Military Medals > USCG Medals & Ribbons > Full Size Coast Guard Medals Purple Heart Medal Purple Heart Medal from Medals of America. Each military medal is guaranteed new, official and never surplus. Our veterans inspect and ship each medal to ensure the highest quality. Purple Heart Medal Service: All Services (Originally Army Only) Instituted: 1932; The Purple Heart Medal is retroactive to 5 April 1917; however, awards for qualifying prior to that date have been made Criteria: Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or to any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, since 5 April 1917 has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may die of wounds received from an opposing enemy force while in armed combat or as a result of an act of international terrorism or being a Prisoner of War.

Devices: Army/Air Force: Bronze, Silver Oak Leaf Cluster; Navy/ Marine Corps/Coast Guard: Gold, Silver Star Notes: A Wound Ribbon ap­peared briefly in 1917, but was ultimately rescinded. (The Army used wound chevrons during World War I) Purple Heart - Overview The Purple Heart Medal is America’s oldest military decoration. It was originally established on August 7, 1782 by General George Washington who designed the original award called the “Badge of Military Merit.” The Badge of Military Merit was awarded for singularly meritorious action to a deserving hero of the Revolutionary War. There were only three recipients of the award, all of whom were non-commissioned officers of the Continental Army. The Badge of Military Merit was intended by Washington to be a permanent decoration, but was never used again after the three initial presentations until it was reestablished as the Purple Heart Medal on February 22, 1932 (the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birth) by the Army War Department.

During the First World War, War Department General Order No.134 of October 12, 1917 authorized a red ribbon with a narrow white center stripe to be worn on the right breast for wounds received in action. However, the order was rescinded 32 days later and the ribbon never became a reality. Instead, the Army authorized wound chevrons which were worn on the lower right sleeve of the tunic. On July 21, 1932, General Douglas MacArthur, who was a key figure in its revival, received the first Purple Heart Medal after it was reestablished. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order on December 3, 1942 that expanded the award to members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard as well. Although the Purple Heart Medal was awarded for meritorious service between 1932 and 1943, the primary purpose of the award has always been to recognize those who received wounds while in the service of the United States military. Later, Presidential Executive Orders extended eligibility for the Purple Heart Medal to military and civilian personnel who received wounds from a terrorist attack or while performing peace keeping duties.

Currently, it is awarded for wounds received while serving in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces after April 5, 1917; it may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel. The wounds may have been received while in combat against an enemy, while a member of a peacekeeping force, while a Prisoner of War, as a result of a terrorist attack or as a result of a friendly fire incident in hostile territory. The 1996 Defense Authorization Act extended eligibility for the Purple Heart to prisoners of war before April 25, 1962; previous legislation had only authorized the medal to POWs after April 25, 1962. Wounds that qualify must have required treatment by a medical officer and must be a matter of official record. Purple Heart - Precedence The Purple Heart Medal was originally last in precedence of all other personal decorations, but was elevated in 1985 by an act of Congress to a position just behind the Bronze Star. The military medal is a heart-shaped, gold-rimmed medallion with a profile of George Washington on a purple enameled base.

Above Washington’s profile is the shield from his family’s coat of arms. “FOR MILITARY MERIT” is inscribed on the reverse. The ribbon is a dark purple with narrow white edges. The original Badge of Military Merit was a satin purple heart edged in white. The format may have been used since the strongest wood available for gun carriages and weapons during the Revolution was called “Purpleheart”, a very strong smooth grain wood from Latin America that was stronger than the famous English oak. Here was an American wood that was stronger, more resistant to rot and termites than any other known wood. Perhaps General Washington chose the American Purpleheart wood as a symbol of strength and resistance over the British hearts of English Oak (a popular English military song of the time). Additional awards of the Purple Heart Medal are denoted by bronze and silver oak leaf clusters or gold and silver stars, depending on the recipient’s Service Branch.

The Purple Heart - Our First Military Medal Stories of American Heroes - Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado The Purple Heart Our Nation's First Military Award On June 26, 1775 General George Washington rode into Boston to assume command the the Continental Army of the colonies soon to declare themselves independent as the United States of America. His first impression was not a good one. Washington had served as a Colonel in the British Army during the French-Indian Wars, had led men and seen combat. During the march on Duquesne in 1755 his commander, Major General Edward Braddock had been killed, and Colonel Washington was fortunate to survive. Two horses had been shot from beneath him in the action and his uniform had been torn in four places by bullets. Now, as the 17,000 men of his new command assembled before him, General Washington had a deep sense of foreboding. This was no army! He would be hard pressed to even describe it as a militia. It was a rag-tag band of farmers, merchants, and adventurers...not a professional soldier among them.

To his good friend Patrick Henry back in Virginia he is reported to have written, "From the day I entered upon the command of the American armies, I date my fall and the ruin of my reputation." In the years that followed, Washington did his best to build them into an army. He led them by example, providing courageous inspiration in their darkest moments. He prayed for them at night, his wife sewed clothing and cooked meals for many of them during the harsh winter at Valley Forge. Though seldom considered a brilliant tactician, in fact General Washington lost more battles than he won, he was a powerful leader. Seven years later that rag-tag force was on the brink of defeating the army of Great Britain. It was an incredible transformation. In October of 1781 the British surrendered at Yorktown and General Washington set up his headquarters at Newburgh, New York. Along the way, General Washington had always tried to maintain a degree of personal involvement with his men. He witnessed their courage, their valor in battle, and did his best to reward them accordingly. This was usually accomplished through "field promotions". Any soldier who distinguished himself in battle might suddenly find himself being promoted in rank, perhaps even receiving a commission.

It was an effective recognition, for with increased rank came increased pay. By the summer of 1782 the American Revolution was over, only the formalities of adopting the peace accords remained. General Washington was in his headquarters at Newburgh, New York as the Continental Congress reviewed the cost of the war for independence, as well as the continued cost of maintaining an army. Funds were depleted, in fact many soldiers of the Continental Army had not received their pay for war time service (and would not...a point which later led to Shay's Rebellion ). In a cost-cutting measure the Congress sent General Washington a message to cease his practice of recognizing individual achievement or valor by promotion. Though the battle for freedom was over, General Washington believed it was important to maintain the effectiveness and high morale of his troops, even in peace time. As General Washington pondered this in contrast with his recent message from Congress, he began devising new ways to recognize his men for service and for singularly meritorious service. They were formalized in his General Orders of August 7, 1782.

To recognized EVERY soldier for his service, General Washington authorized a chevron to be worn on the left sleeve of any enlisted or non-commissioned veteran who had served for three years with "bravery, fidelity and good conduct". Veterans of six years service would be authorized to wear two chevrons. This was a brave new step in military history. European models had usually recognized officers and royalty with military awards, never the common soldier. George Washington's "badge of service" would take emphasis away from rank, indicating that it was SERVICE and not rank that was important. He instituted this step to recognize our first veterans of military service by saying, "The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all." This new recognition was established with Washington's General Orders of August 7, 1782. General Washington took it one step further, authorizing an individual award for men who singularly performed deeds of valor or unusual merit. It would become The Badge of Military Merit.

The General's orders described it thus: "The General, ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers as well as foster and encourage every species of military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with due reward. "The name and regiment of the persons so certified are to be enrolled in a Book of Merit which shall be kept in the orderly room." The Badge of Military Merit With those August 7, 1782 orders General Washington established our first military medal, the Badge of Military Merit. It was made of cloth or silk, purple in color and bordered with a white lace. It could be worn either suspended from a ribbon placed around around the neck or sewn to the left breast pocket of the uniform. The man who received it, regardless of his rank, would be granted privileges normally reserved to officers.

Specifically, any recipient of the award would be allowed to pass by guards and sentinels with the same courtesy such other enlisted men paid to officers. General Washington called upon a close friend to design the award, M. Pierre Charles L'Enfant. Later as President, George Washington called upon that same friend to design our Nation's Capitol City in Washington, D.C. Nearly a year later, on May 3, 1783 General Washington presented The Badge of Military Merit to two soldiers from Connecticut. Sergeant Elijah Churchill had been a carpenter before entering the Continental Army as a private years earlier. He was cited for gallantry in action at Fort St. George near Brookhaven on Long Island, at Coram, New York in November 1780, as well as a subsequent action at Tarrytown, New York in July 1781. Sergeant William Brown was also cited. Though records of his citation have not been recovered, it is generally believed he was cited for his gallantry during the siege of Yorktown. On June 10, 1783 General Washington presented a third Badge of Military Merit to Sergeant Daniel Bissell, Jr.

A year earlier General Washington had ordered the Connecticut sergeant to pose as a deserter, acting as a spy among the British troops in New York. From August 14 to September 29 the brave patriot had repeatedly risked his life to provide valuable information on enemy strength and movement. These three awards were all made directly by General Washington himself, the awards presented together with a certificate detailing the service for which the Badge was awarded. Two of these original awards are still on display, more than 200 years after their presentation. There is no other known record of this award. The Medal Of Honor General Washington's dream of recognizing singularly meritorious action by ordinary soldiers never quite caught on. At the time he issued his Executive Orders on August 7, 1782 he stated: "The order (authorizing the Badge of Military Merit) to be retroactive to the earliest stages of the war, and to be a permanent one." But Washington himself, presented only three, and the award faded into obscurity. Even as the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps of the young United States became more professional, the reluctance to recognize military men with medals ran deep.

The practice of wearing medals was far too reminiscent of European aristocracy, and the people of the United States had taken great steps to build their nation far from the European model. In 1847 the American military found itself committed to combat in the Mexican-American War. During that brief action a "certificate of merit" was created to recognize those soldiers who distinguished themselves in action. But the certificate of merit was just that, a certificate that existed more in terms of a voucher that often brought a small payment to the soldier but no lasting recognition or visible medal. Not until the Civil War was any consideration given to awarding a medal itself. Early in the Civil War a medal of honor was proposed in Congress to "promote efficiency in the Navy." Approved in 1861, the new Medal of Honor would only be awarded to enlisted sailors and petty officers, and was not approved for award to commissioned officers until more than 50 years later. The following summer the Army established its own Medal of Honor in legislation signed by President Lincoln on July 12, 1862. Before the war ended, the Army allowed the award of its medal to enlisted men, non-commissioned and commissioned officers who distinguished themselves.

During the Civil War more than 2,000 Medals of Honor were awarded to United States soldiers ranging in rank from private to general. (Later, in 1917, some 900 of these awards were rescinded.) The Navy awarded its Medal of Honor to 308 enlisted sailors, and 17 enlisted Marines. (You can read more specific information and chronology of the Medal of Honor HERE !) In similar fashion to General Washington's original plan for awarding the Badge of Military Merit, the Medal of Honor was presented by an accompanying certificate, now called a "citation", setting forth the actions for which it was presented. An honor roll was also subsequently established to record each recipient's name and unit for future generations. From the end of the Civil War through World War I, the Medal of Honor was the ONLY medal that could be earned by members of the United States Army, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard. For this reason Medals of Honor were often awarded in situations that, though meritorious, did not warrant such an award. As a result, a review of Medal of Honor awards in 1917 led to the rescinding of 910 previous awards.

More importantly, it led to the creation of "lesser awards" for actions that did not merit the Medal of Honor but were worthy of recognition. These new medals including the Distinguished Service Cross (and shortly thereafter the Navy Cross) and the Silver Star, were arranged in an order of PRECEDENCE . At the top of this order of precedence was, of course, the Medal of Honor. Awards of the Medal of Honor in the late 1800's, many of them to Civil War veterans for service almost half a century earlier, began to draw attention. For the first time American military veterans began to not only accept military medals as an American tradition, but to covet them as well. The establishment of the Pyramid of Honor seemed to open a floodgate that, in the 50 years following would create an array of medals for valor, medals for service, and campaign ribbons that would be difficult to keep up with. In the process, our Nation's first military medal began to get a second look.

The Purple Heart Medal The award we have come to recognize as the Purple Heart actually found its roots not so much in the desire to create a new medal for military men to wear, as it was in the desire to honor a great American hero of the past. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. Nearly 200 years later the American public was preparing for the bi-centennial of his birth, complete with commemorative events and celebrations. In the process of researching the life of the Father of our Country in order to plan the celebration, General Washington's Executive Order of August 7, 1782 was found. Along with it was the record of his purple Badge of Military Merit and the accounts of the three men who had received it. On October 10, 1927 Army Chief of Staff, General Charles P. Summerall drafted a bill to send to Congress in an effort to revive the Badge of Military Merit. For whatever reasons, the bill received little support and was withdrawn early the following year.

As the bi-centennial celebration drew closer, General Summerall was replaced by General Douglas MacArthur, a hero of service in Mexico and World War I, and the son of a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. With little public fanfare, General MacArthur began work anew on General Summerall's proposal to re-establish the Badge of Military Merit. Throughout 1931 the Army quietly designed and created the new award. It was announced on February 22, 1932...the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. In honor of the Father of our Country and the man who established our military's first medal, the Purple Heart would bear the profile on George Washington on its face. The Army quickly embraced the new medal, authorizing its presentation to any soldier whose "wound...necessitates treatment by a medical officer and which is received in action with an enemy." The award itself was made retro-active, allowing World War I Army veterans who had been wounded in action to exchange previously received Meritorious Service Citation Certificates for the new Purple Heart Medal. In the early days of World War II, soldiers received the Purple Heart not only for wounds, but also in some circumstances, for meritorious service.

The Navy was not so quick to accept the Medal, and not until a year after Pearl Harbor was it authorized for sailors and Marines. On December 3, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order authorizing the Purple Heart to sailors and Marines wounded or killed on or after December 6, 1941. This made all those injured or killed at Pearl Harbor eligible for the Purple Heart. At the same time he established the Legion of Merit medal for meritorious service, restricting the Purple Heart for award only to those killed or wounded in combat. Later, President Truman extended the time period for the award back to April 5, 1917, allowing Naval and Marine Corps veterans of World War I to receive the award. Today the Purple Heart is perhaps, the most unique of all United States military awards. Though low in the order of precedence on the Pyramid of Honor (it ranks below the Bronze star), it is one of the most widely recognized and respected medals. It can not be earned by courage or by exceptional service or achievement. The Purple Heart signifies one thing...SACRIFICE. Whenever you see the Purple Heart, know that it represents either a combat death or a combat wound.

It represents the blood that has been shed in defense of liberty. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed force who, while serving with the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded. A wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer.

Criteria: For wounds or death sustained in action against an enemy of the United States; In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged; While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces; As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force; After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States by a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the department concerned, or jointly by Secretaries of the departments concerned if persons from more than one department are wounded in the attack; or After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations, while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force. After 7 December 1941, by weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict, regardless of the fire causing the wound (friendly fire). While held as a prisoner of war or while being taken captive.

It has not been uncommon in time of war, for soldiers to be wounded more than one time. (Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Robert Howard was wounded 14 times in 54 months of combat duty, for a total of 9 awards of the Purple Heart.) As with other military awards, subsequent awards of the Purple Heart are designated by the addition of one oak leaf cluster for each additional award. The Military Order of the Purple Heart is the only organization chartered by Congress to represent the military veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart. You can click on their logo above or to visit their website. (EXTERNAL LINK) A Symbol of Sacrifice For a complete list of all Military Medals for All Branches of Service, Click on the icon below. National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Contact Us History The award known as the Purple Heart has a history that reaches back to the waning days of the American Revolution. The Continental Congress had forbidden General George Washington from granting commissions and promotions in rank to recognize merit. Yet Washington wanted to honor merit, particularly among the enlisted soldiers. On August 7, 1782, his general orders established the Badge of Military Merit: "...

The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit directs whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or binding." This award was open only to enlisted men and granted them the distinction of being permitted to pass all guards and sentinels as could commissioned-officers. The names of the recipients were to have been kept in a "Book of Merit" (which has never been recovered). At the present time there are three known recipients of the Badge of Military Merit: Sergeant Elijah Churchill, 2nd Continental Dragoons; Sergeant William Brown, 5th and Sergeant Daniel Bissel, 2nd Connecticut Continental Line Infantry. Washington stated that the award was to be a permanent one, but once the Revolution ended, the Badge of Merit was all but forgotten until the 20th century.

General John J."Blackjack" Pershing suggested a need for an award for merit in 1918, but it was not until 1932 that the Purple Heart was created in recognition of Washington's ideals and for the bicentennial of his birth. General Order #3 announced the establishment of the award: "...By order of the President of the United States, the Purple Heart, established by General George Washington at Newburgh, August 7, 1782, during the War of the Revolution is hereby revived out of respect to his memory and military achievements. By order of the Secretary of War: Douglas MacArthur General, Chief of Staff On May 28, 1932, 137 World War I veterans were conferred their Purple Hearts at Temple Hill, in New Windsor, NY. Temple Hill was the site of the New Windsor Cantonment, which was the final encampment of the Continental Army in the winter of 1782-1783. Today,the National Purple Heart continues the tradition begun here in 1932, of honoring those who have earned the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart has undergone many changes with respect to the criteria for being awarded.

At first, the Purple Heart was exclusively awarded to Army and Army Air Corps personnel and could not be awarded posthumously to the next of kin. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order allowing the Navy to award the Purple Heart to Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel. Also in that year, the Purple Heart was made available for posthumous award to any member of the military killed on or after December 7, 1941. Originally the Purple Heart was awarded for meritorious service. Being wounded was considered to be one type of merit. With the creation of the Legion of Merit in 1942, the award of the Purple Heart for meritorious service became unnecessary and was therefore discontinued. The Purple Heart, per regulation is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917 has been wounded, killed, or has died after being wounded.

Purple Heart Timeline General Order #3, signed by General Douglas MacArthur creates the modern Purple Heart December 3, 1942 Executive Order 9277 by President Roosevelt authorizes the Purple Heart for all branches of service and authorizes posthumous awards, back dated to 6 December 1941. November 12, 1952 Executive Order 10409 authorized posthumous Purple Heart awards to Navy, Coast Guard or Marine Corps personnel killed on or after April 5, 1917. (The Army and the Air Force are not formally included until 1962) April 25, 1962 Executive Order 11016 authorized civilian Purple Hearts for those under competent military authority; it also authorized posthumous awards to those killed on or after April 5, 1917 upon application by their next of kin. February 23, 1984 Executive Order 12464 authorized the Purple Heart to be awarded for acts of terror as well as for wounds or death resulting from US Armed Forces personnel acting as part of a peacekeeping force outside of the United States or its territories.

November 30, 1993 Purple Hearts may be awarded for wounds or death resulting from “friendly fire” (unless it from willful misconduct).US Code 10 section 1129, per PL 103-160 February 10, 1996 PL 104-106 Section 521 expands Purple Heart eligibility to POWs wounded during capture or during captivity prior to April 25, 1962. (Policy interpretations had considered, and awarded the Purple Heart, on case by case bases to POWs captured after April 25, 1962) May 19, 1998 Effective this date, the Purple Heart is limited to American military personnel, and civilian awards are eliminated. October 1, 2008 The Department of Defense authorizes the Purple Heart for POWs (after December 7, 1941) who subsequently die in captivity.

Information is from the Memo this date to secretaries of the military departments April 28, 2011 The Department of Defense announces a standard which allows for a more standard way to evaluate a wounded individual for a Purple Heart resulting from a "non-penetrating wound". February 6, 2015 The Department of Defense announces that eligibility has been extended to those wounded or killed by certain kinds domestic terrorist activities. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor 374 Temple Hill Road Eight Facts about the Purple Heart Eight Facts about the Purple Heart ashmccall – August 7, 2014 Posted in: U.S. Army On February 22, 1932, by Executive Order of the President of the United States, the Purple Heart was revived. The original Purple Heart was established by George Washington, then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, on August 7, 1782. The Badge of Military Merit was only awarded to three Revolutionary War Soldiers. Although never abolished, the award of the badge was not proposed again officially until after World War I.

The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917. Eight facts about the Purple Heart: 1) Until 1931, the Purple Heart was known as the Badge of Military Merit. 2) The three words inscribed on the reverse side of the Purple Heart are “For Military Merit.” 3) Per surviving records, Sergeant Elijah Churchill Sergeant William Brown and Sergeant Daniel Bissell, Jr. are the three noncommissioned officers who received the original honor badge (Purple Heart). 4) In 1931 Miss Elizabeth Will, an Army heraldic specialist in the Office of the Quartermaster General, was named to redesign the newly revive medal. 5) After its disuse following the Revolution, the Purple Heart was revived on the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth (the original creator of the medal). 6) On December 3, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt extended the use of the Purple Heart to all services. 7) The Purple Heart is ranked immediately behind the Bronze Star in order of precedence among the personal awards.

8) The Purple Heart is the oldest military award that is still given to members of the U.S. military and differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not “recommended” for the decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria. For more information about the Purple Heart, visit Private Colliey G. Brown, of Brooklyn, NY, receiving his Purple Heart. Seventh Army, 4423rd Quartermaster Car. Co., XXI Corps, Schwabisch Gmund, Germany, May 18, 1945. (Henry Utley Milne Collection). Brigadier General Elmer F. Wallender congratulating Lieutenant Bernowsky of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, upon receipt of his Purple Heart. Photograph taken March 21, 1945, at Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. (Henry Utley Milne Collection). This certificate indicates that a Purple Heart was awarded to Private First Class Gene A. Metz, who was killed in action on 28 January 1952 in Korea. Metz served with Company I, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

His twin brother Dean served in the same unit and survived the war. (Dean A. Metz Collection). Purple Heart | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Defense Meritorious Service Medal [2] Purple Heart Ribbon The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military . With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit , which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award that is still given to members of the U.S. military, the only earlier award being the obsolete Fidelity Medallion . The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York. Contents Edit The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit , was established by George Washington —then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army – by order from his Newburgh, New York headquarters on August 7, 1782. The Badge of Military Merit was only awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers and from then on as its legend grew, so did its appearance.

Although never abolished, the award of the badge was not proposed again officially until after World War I . [3] [4] On October 10, 1927, Army Chief of Staff General Charles Pelot Summerall directed that a draft bill be sent to Congress "to revive the Badge of Military Merit". The bill was withdrawn and action on the case ceased on January 3, 1928, but the office of the Adjutant General was instructed to file all materials collected for possible future use. A number of private interests sought to have the medal reinstituted in the Army. One of these was the board of directors of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum in Ticonderoga, New York . On January 7, 1931, Summerall’s successor, General Douglas MacArthur , confidentially reopened work on a new design, involving the Washington Commission of Fine Arts. This new design was issued on the bicentennial of George Washington's birth. Elizabeth Will, an Army heraldic specialist in the Office of the Quartermaster General , was named to redesign the newly revived medal, which became known as the Purple Heart.

Using general specifications provided to her, Will created the design sketch for the present medal of the Purple Heart. Her obituary, in the February 8, 1975 edition of The Washington Post newspaper, reflects her many contributions to military heraldry. Sign on Interstate 35 designating the Purple Heart Trail. Purple Heart Memorial, Westland, Michigan The Commission of Fine Arts solicited plaster models from three leading sculptors for the medal, selecting that of John R. Sinnock of the Philadelphia Mint in May 1931. By Executive Order of the President of the United States , the Purple Heart was revived on the 200th Anniversary of George Washington's birth, out of respect to his memory and military achievements, by War Department General Orders No. 3, dated February 22, 1932. The Purple Heart award is a heart -shaped medal within a gold border, 1 3⁄8 inches (35 mm) wide, containing a profile of General George Washington . Above the heart appears a shield of the coat of arms of George Washington (a white shield with two red bars and three red stars in chief) between sprays of green leaves.

The reverse consists of a raised bronze heart with the words FOR MILITARY MERIT below the coat of arms and leaves. The ribbon is 1 and 3⁄8 inches (35 mm) wide and consists of the following stripes: 1⁄8 inch (3 mm) white 67101; 1 1⁄8 inches (29 mm) purple 67115; and 1⁄8 inch (3 mm) white 67101. [3] Devices Additional awards of the Purple Heart are denoted by oak leaf clusters in the Army and Air Force , and additional awards of the Purple Heart Medal are denoted by 5/16 inch stars in the Navy , Marine Corps , and Coast Guard . [2] The criteria were announced in a War Department circular dated February 22, 1932 and authorized award to soldiers, upon their request, who had been awarded the Meritorious Service Citation Certificate , Army Wound Ribbon , or were authorized to wear Wound Chevrons subsequent to April 5, 1917, the day before the United States entered World War I . The first Purple Heart was awarded to MacArthur.

During the early period of American involvement in World War II (December 7, 1941 – September 22, 1943), the Purple Heart was awarded both for wounds received in action against the enemy and for meritorious performance of duty. With the establishment of the Legion of Merit , by an Act of Congress, the practice of awarding the Purple Heart for meritorious service was discontinued. By Executive Order 9277, dated December 3, 1942, the decoration was extended to be applicable to all services and the order required that regulations of the Services be uniform in application as far as practicable. This executive order also authorized the award only for wounds received. AR 600-45, dated September 22, 1943, and May 3, 1944 identify circumstances required to meet in order to be eligible for the Purple Heart for military and civilian personnel during World War II era. Executive Order 10409, dated February 12, 1952, revised authorizations to include the Service Secretaries subject to approval of the Secretary of Defense .

Executive Order 11016, dated April 25, 1962, included provisions for posthumous award of the Purple Heart. Executive Order 12464, dated February 23, 1984, authorized award of the Purple Heart as a result of terrorist attacks or while serving as part of a peacekeeping force subsequent to March 28, 1973. The Senate approved an amendment to the 1985 Defense Authorization Bill on June 13, 1985 which changed the precedence from immediately above the Good Conduct Medal to immediately above the Meritorious Service Medals . Public Law 99-145 authorized the award for wounds received as a result of friendly fire . Public Law 104-106 expanded the eligibility date, authorizing award of the Purple Heart to a former prisoner of war who was wounded before April 25, 1962.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85) changed the criteria to delete authorization for award of the Purple Heart to any civilian national of the United States while serving under competent authority in any capacity with the Armed Forces. This change was effective May 18, 1998. [5] During World War II, nearly 500,000 Purple Heart medals were manufactured in anticipation of the estimated casualties resulting from the planned Allied invasion of Japan . To the present date, total combined American military casualties of the sixty-five years following the end of World War II —including the Korean and Vietnam Wars —have not exceeded that number. In 2003, there were still 120,000 of these Purple Heart medals in stock. There are so many in surplus that combat units in Iraq and Afghanistan are able to keep Purple Hearts on-hand for immediate award to wounded soldiers in the field. [6] The "History" section of the November 2009 edition of National Geographic estimated the number of purple hearts given as below. Above the estimates, the text reads, "Any tally of Purple Hearts is an estimate.

Awards are often given during conflict; records aren't always exact" (page 33). [1] Afghanistan War : 7,027 (as of 5 June 2010) Iraq War : 35,321 (as of 5 June 2010) Criteria President Obama awards the Purple Heart to a soldier standing at attention, April 7, 2009 at Camp Victory, Iraq. Admiral Mike Mullen reads the citations for seven soldiers receiving Purple Heart for wounds sustained in Afghanistan. Soldier is awarded the Purple Heart during a ceremony on Coleman Barracks. Man wearing his medal during an anti-Vietnam War peace march, 1967 The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded or killed.

Specific examples of services which warrant the Purple Heart include any action against an enemy of the United States; any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged; while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; as a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces; or as the result of an act of any hostile foreign force. After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack. After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force. [7] The Purple Heart differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not "recommended" for the decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria.

A Purple Heart is awarded for the first wound suffered under conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an oak leaf cluster is worn in lieu of the medal. Not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instant. A "wound" is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required; however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award. The Purple Heart is not awarded for non-combat injuries.

[7] Enemy-related injuries which justify the award of the Purple Heart include injury caused by enemy bullet , shrapnel , or other projectile created by enemy action; injury caused by enemy placed land mine , naval mine , or trap ; injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent ; injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire; concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions. Injuries or wounds which do not qualify for award of the Purple Heart include frostbite or trench foot injuries; heat stroke ; food poisoning not caused by enemy agents; chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy; battle fatigue ; disease not directly caused by enemy agents; accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action; self-inflicted wounds (e.g., a soldier accidentally fires their own gun and the bullet strikes his or her leg), except when in the heat of battle, and not involving gross negligence; post-traumatic stress disorders ; [8] and jump injuries not caused by enemy action.

It is not intended that such a strict interpretation of the requirement for the wound or injury to be caused by direct result of hostile action be taken that it would preclude the award being made to deserving personnel. Commanders must also take into consideration the circumstances surrounding an injury, even if it appears to meet the criteria. In the case of an individual injured while making a parachute landing from an aircraft that had been brought down by enemy fire; or, an individual injured as a result of a vehicle accident caused by enemy fire, the decision will be made in favor of the individual and the award will be made. As well, individuals wounded or killed as a result of " friendly fire " in the "heat of battle" will be awarded the Purple Heart as long as the "friendly" projectile or agent was released with the full intent of inflicting damage or destroying enemy troops or equipment. Individuals injured as a result of their own negligence, such as by driving or walking through an unauthorized area known to have been mined or placed off limits or searching for or picking up unexploded munitions as war souvenirs, will not be awarded the Purple Heart as they clearly were not injured as a result of enemy action, but rather by their own negligence.

From 1942 to 1997, civilians serving or closely affiliated with the armed forces—as government employees, Red Cross workers, war correspondents and the like—were eligible to receive the Purple Heart. About 100 men and women received the award, the most famous being newspaperman Ernie Pyle , who was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously by the Army after being killed by Japanese machine gun fire in the Pacific Theater near the end of World War II. Before his death, Pyle had seen and experienced combat in the European Theater accompanying and writing about infantrymen for the folks back home. [9] The most recent Purple Hearts presented to civilians occurred after the terrorist attacks at Khobar Towers , Saudi Arabia, in 1996—about 40 U.S. civil service employees received the award for their injuries. In 1997, however, at the urging of the Military Order of the Purple Heart , Congress passed legislation prohibiting future awards of the Purple Heart to civilians. Today, the Purple Heart is only for those men and women in uniform. Civilian employees of the U.S.

Department of Defense who are killed or wounded as a result of hostile action may receive the new Defense of Freedom Medal , created shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 . Presentation Edit Purple Heart Medal with gold 5/16 inch star and lapel button in presentation case. World War II. Current active duty personnel are awarded the Purple Heart upon recommendation from their chain of command, stating the injury that was received and the action in which the service member was wounded. The award authority for the Purple Heart is normally at the level of an Army Brigade , Marine Corps Division , Air Force Wing, or Navy Task Force. While the award of the Purple Heart is considered automatic for all wounds received in combat, each award presentation must still be reviewed to ensure that the wounds received were as a result of enemy action. Modern day Purple Heart presentations are recorded in both hardcopy and electronic service records. The annotation of the Purple Heart is denoted both with the service member's parent command and at the headquarters of the military service department. An original citation and award certificate are presented to the service member and filed in the field service record. U.S. Army Purple Heart Certificate for a soldier wounded during the Korean War.

During the Vietnam War , Korean War , and World War II , the Purple Heart was often awarded on the spot, with occasional entries made into service records, but this was often not the case. In addition, during the mass demobilizations that followed each of America's major wars of the 20th century, it was a common occurrence for the Purple Heart to be omitted from service records, due to clerical errors, once the service record was closed upon discharge. An added complication is that a number of field commanders would engage in bedside presentations of the Purple Heart which would typically entail a general entering a hospital with a box of Purple Hearts, pinning them on the pillows of wounded service members, and then departing with no official records kept of the visit or the award of the Purple Heart. Service members, themselves, could complicate the issue by leaving hospitals unofficially, returning to their units in haste to rejoin a battle or to not appear as a malingerer. In such cases, even if a service member had received actual wounds in combat, both the award of the Purple Heart, as well as the entire visit to the hospital which treated the enemy wound, would never be recorded in official records.

Service members requesting retroactive awards of the Purple Heart must normally apply through the National Personnel Records Center . Following a review of service records, those Army members so qualified are awarded the Purple Heart by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command in Alexandria, Virginia. Air Force veterans are awarded the Purple Heart by the Awards Office of Randolph Air Force Base while the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard presents Purple Hearts to veterans through the Navy Liaison Officer at the National Personnel Records Center. Simple clerical errors, where a Purple Heart is denoted in military records but was simply omitted from a (WD AGO Form 53-55 (predecessor to the) DD Form 214 . (Report of Separation), are corrected on site at the National Personnel Records Center through issuance of a document known as a DD-215. Requests Edit As the Purple Heart did not exist prior to 1932, records of the decoration are not annotated in service histories of those veterans who were wounded or killed by enemy action prior to the establishment of the medal. The Purple Heart, however, is retroactive to 1917 meaning that it may be presented to veterans as far back as the First World War .

Prior to 2006, service departments would review older service records, service histories, and all available records to determine if a veteran authorized a retroactive Purple Heart. As of 2008, such records are listed as "Archival" by the National Archives and Records Administration meaning they have been transferred from the custody of the military and can no longer be loaned and transferred for retroactive medals determination. In such cases, requestors asking for a Purple Heart (especially from records of the First World War) are provided with a complete copy of all available records (or reconstructed records in the case of the 1973 fire) and advised that the Purple Heart may be privately purchased if the requestor feels it is warranted.[ citation needed ] A clause to the archival procedures was revised in mid-2008, where if a veteran themselves or (if deceased) an immediate member of the family requested the Purple Heart on an Army or Air Force record, the medal would still be granted by the National Archives. In such cases where a determination was required to be made by the military service department, photocopies of the archival record (but not the record itself) would be forwarded to the headquarters of the military branch in question.

This stipulation was granted only for the Air Force and Army; Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard archival medals requests are still typically offered a copy of the file and told to purchase the medal privately. For requests received directly from veterans, these requests are routed through a Navy Liaison Office on site at 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 (the location of the Military Personnel Records Center).[ citation needed ] Destroyed record requests Edit Due to the 1973 National Archives Fire , a large number of retroactive Purple Heart requests are difficult to verify since all records to substantiate the award may very well have been destroyed. As a solution to this, the National Personnel Records Center maintains a separate office to deal with Purple Heart requests where service records have been destroyed in the 1973 fire. In such cases, NPRC searches through unit records, military pay records, and records of the Department of Veterans Affairs .

If a Purple Heart is warranted, all available alternate records sources are forwarded to the military service department for final determination of issuance.[ citation needed ] The loaning of fire related records to the military has declined since 2006, since a large number of such records now fall into the "archival records" category of military service records meaning that the records have been transferred from the military to the National Archives. In such cases, the Purple Heart may be privately purchased by the requestor (see above section of retroactive requests for further details) but is no longer provided by the military service department.[ citation needed ] Notable recipients

Question: Which US president is depicted on the Purple Heart medal?
Answer: George Washington