From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The
Purple Heart
is a
United States
military decoration
. It is awarded in the name of the
President
to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the
U.S. military
.
[a]
It is the successor to the
Badge of Military Merit
, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth. The Purple Heart is the oldest
military award
still given to U.S. military members. The
National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
is located in
New Windsor, New York
.
The original Purple Heart, called the "Badge of Military Merit", was established by
George Washington
in 1782.
[2]
The Badge of Military Merit was only awarded to three
Revolutionary War
soldiers. If any more had been awarded, any records of being given that award have been lost.
[2]
The badge was never abolished, it was just forgotten about until after
World War I
.
[3]
In 1932 General
Douglas MacArthur
urged the revival of the Purple Heart medal and he was awarded the first one.
[4]
The
War Department
authorized the medal under General Order Number 3. The award was "to be awarded to persons who, while serving in the Army of the United States perform any singular meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service."
[5]
With the establishment of the
Legion of Merit
award, the Purple Heart was no longer awarded for meritorious service. By
Executive Order
9277, dated December 3, 1942, the award was to only be given for
wounds
received. Additional Executive orders added circumstances where the award can be given. In 1962 it was ordered the medal could be given posthumously (after the person died). A 1984 change allowed the award to be given for wounds received as a result of
terrorist
attacks or while serving as part of a
peacekeeping
force. In 1986 public Law 99-145 authorized the award for wounds received as a result of
friendly fire
.
[6]
Because the medal was given out during many
conflicts
, the exact number of Purple Hearts awarded is not known.
The Purple Heart medal is worn on the
uniform
after the
Bronze Star Medal
.
[7]
It is to be worn before the
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
.
[7]
In the
Army
and
Air Force
when a second or more Purple Heart is awarded,
oak leaf clusters
are used. The
Navy
,
Marine Corps
, and
Coast Guard
use
5/16 inch stars
to show multiple awards.
[8]
- ↑
This was later changed to include civilians serving with the US Armed Forces.
[1]
- ↑
Military Order of the Purple Heart,
The Legacy of the Purple Heart
(Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Co.,2001), p. 20
- ↑
2.0
2.1
Fred L. Borch III,
Medals for Soldiers and Airmen: Awards and Decorations of the United States
(Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2013), p. 137
- ↑
"Purple Heart"
. The Institute of Heraldry. Archived from
the original
on 3 December 2013
. Retrieved
6 June
2011
.
- ↑
James G. Thompson,
Complete Guide to United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges, and Insignia: World War II to present
(Fountain Inn, SC: MOA Press, 2006), p. 72
- ↑
Fred L. Borch III,
Medals for Soldiers and Airmen: Awards and Decorations of the United States
(Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2013), p. 140
- ↑
United States Code, 2006
, (Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 2008), p. 1131
- ↑
7.0
7.1
Tim Zurick,
Army Dictionary and Desk Reference
(Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2010), p. 284
- ↑
"Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD-Wide Performance and Valor Awards; Foreign Awards; Military Awards to Foreign Personnel and U.S. Public Health Service Officers; and Miscellaneous Information"
(PDF)
.
DoD Manual 1348.33, Vol. 3
. Department of Defense. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 26 February 2013
. Retrieved
31 July
2012
.
, p. 24