What is the Purple Heart?

Purple Heart:

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. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York. The original idea for the Purple Heart (the Badge of Military Merit) is the oldest symbol and award that is still given to members of the U.S. military, surpassed in history only by the long obsolete Fidelity Medallion.

History

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.[1] The actual order includes the phrase, "Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen." The Badge of Military Merit was only awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers and fell into disuse following the War of Independence. Although never abolished, the award of the badge was not proposed again officially until after World War I.

Criteria

Per United States Army regulations, 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, or who has died after being wounded. Specific examples of services which warrant the Purple Heart 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.

Presentation

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.

Notable Recipients:

* Charles Bronson, actor

* Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., writer

* Oliver Stone, director

* Richard Winters

* Dale Dye, actor

* Lee Marvin, actor

* Charles Durning, actor

* Audie Murphy, actor

* John Kerry, Massachusetts Senator and 2004 Democratic candidate for the Presidency of the United States

* John McCain, Arizona Senator and 2008 Republican candidate for the Presidency of the United States

* John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States

* U.S. Army General Wesley Clark

* Bruce Sundlun, former governor of Rhode Island.

* Steponas Darius, an aviator, who fought for the U.S. Army during World War I

* Rod Serling, the host, creator, and writer of the 1959 series The Twilight Zone.

* Robert M. Polich, Sr., featured in Minnesotas Greatest Generation (2008) short Film Festival [6]

* Oliver C. Thomas, Texas businessman and World War II prisoner of war

The most Purple Hearts received by one person is eight. Six U.S. Army soldiers share that distinction:

* Richard J. Buck - Four Purple Hearts in the Korean War and four in the Vietnam War

* Robert T. Frederick - Eight Purple Hearts in World War II; also received two Distinguished Service Crosses

* David H. Hackworth - Eight Purple Hearts in the Korean War and Vietnam War; also received two Distinguished Service Crosses and ten Silver Stars

* Robert L. Howard - Eight Purple Hearts in the Vietnam War; also received the Medal of Honor

* William L. Russell - Eight Purple Hearts in World War II; Silver Star

* William Waugh - Eight Purple Hearts in the Vietnam War; also received the Silver Star

To read the complete presentation go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Heart

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