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The Purple Heart

The Purple Heart Medal today, is the modern form of the original Purple Heart established by General George Washington in 1782, and is conferred on any person wounded in action while serving with the armed forces of the United States. It is also awarded posthumously to the next of kin of personnel killed or having died of wounds received in action after April 5, 1917.

Award: The Purple Heart is awarded for combat action only, to any member of the Armed Forces killed or wounded in an armed conflict. Second and subsequent awards of the Purple Heart are denoted by a gold star for Navy and Marine Corps personnel and by an oak-leaf cluster for Army and Air Force personnel.

Design: Designed by Elizabeth Will and modeled by John R. Sinnock. The heart-shaped medal, one of the best known and also one of the most beautiful of our decorations. The inner heart on the obverse is of purple plastic (originally enamel), and the sculptured outer heart of gold-colored metal. On the purple heart General Washington is shown in profile, facing left, in a relief also of gold-colored metal. Above this heart is Washington's coat of arms, and enamel shield of white with two horizontal bands of red, and above them three red stars with sprays of green leaves on either side of the shield.
The reverse of the medal is entirely of gold-colored metal, including the shield and leaves. Within the sculptured outer heart and below the shield is the inscription, set in three lines, "For Military Merit," with a space below for the recipient's name.

Ribbon: The Ribbon is deep purple with narrow white edges.

History: Originally established by GEN George Washington on 7 AUG 1782, at Newburgh on the Hudson, New York, as an award for outstanding military merit, or the 'Badge of Merit'. The decoration was in the form of an embroidered, heart-shaped badge of purple cloth and only three non-commissioned officers received the Order at that time. Though never officially abolished it was not again awarded for almost one hundred and fifty years.
Upon its revival in 1932, as the Purple Heart, the decoration was to be awarded to members of the US Army in two categories:

For being wounded in action in any war or campaign under conditions which entitle the wearing of a wound chevron.

"For those persons who perform any singularly meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service."

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order which provided that the Purple Heart would be made available to members of all the US Armed Services who were wounded in action. Since then the Purple Heart has become one of the most highly respected decorations of the US Armed Forces. The decoration holds a very unique position in that it can be earned in only one way, by being wounded. An attendant requirement is that the wound must have been received as a direct result of enemy actions.