United States Purple Heart
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| United States Purple Heart | |
|---|---|
| Name | Purple Heart |
| Presented by | United States (unlinked per instructions) |
| Type | Military decoration |
| Awarded for | Military merit; wounds received in action |
| Status | Active |
| Established | 1782; revived 1932 |
| First awarded | 1782; modern era 1932 |
| Ribbon | Purple Heart ribbon |
United States Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces, originally established as the Badge of Military Merit by George Washington and revived in the interwar period under the advocacy of Douglas MacArthur and implementation by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The decoration recognizes those who have been wounded or killed while serving with United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, United States Coast Guard, and eligible United States National Guard members in actions involving World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq War, and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). The Purple Heart occupies a prominent place in American military culture alongside awards such as the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, and Silver Star.
History
The Badge of Military Merit was created by George Washington at Valley Forge in 1782 to honor enlisted soldiers of the Continental Army who exhibited "not only instances of unusual gallantry" but also "firmness and fidelity." The original award fell into disuse after the American Revolutionary War until the early 20th century when veterans' organizations such as the American Legion and military leaders including Douglas MacArthur lobbied for revival. President Franklin D. Roosevelt reintroduced the award in 1932 as the Purple Heart, with designs influenced by Martha Washington portraiture and the iconography of the Badge of Military Merit. During World War II, the award criteria expanded and administrative structures at War Department and later Department of Defense levels standardized issuance, resulting in widespread presentation during World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War. Post-Vietnam adjustments reflected lessons from incidents such as My Lai Massacre and operations including Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Eligibility and Award Criteria
Eligibility rules are codified in regulations issued by Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force, and implemented through the Department of Defense's directives. The Purple Heart is awarded to service members wounded or killed by enemy action, hostile fire, or as a result of terrorist or rebel attacks while serving under competent orders. Cases involving friendly fire, incidents of negligence, or wounds sustained prior to service have nuanced adjudication, informed by precedents set in adjudications after Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Tet Offensive, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Retroactive awards have been made for veterans of the Philippine–American War, Civil War veterans recognized through historical review, and for some World War I survivors following archival research by the National Archives and Records Administration and veteran advocacy by groups such as the Disabled American Veterans.
Design and Symbolism
The modern medallion depicts a profile of George Washington taken from the Vigee Le Brun portrait of Martha Washington set on a purple ribbon, edged in gold, with a heart shape conveying sacrifice. The reverse bears the inscription "For Military Merit" and spaces for recipient identification, echoing the original Badge of Military Merit. The purple coloration and design elements reference heraldic purple associated with royalty and sacrifice, paralleling symbolism used in other honors like the Order of the Garter and complementing American military decorations such as the Bronze Star Medal and Army Commendation Medal.
Issuance and Administration
Issuance is administered through military personnel commands at unit, installation, and service branch levels, with confirmation of wounds through medical documentation from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, and other military treatment facilities. Determinations can involve boards such as the Board for Correction of Military Records and appeals through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences-linked medical review processes. Record-keeping entails coordination with the National Personnel Records Center and eligibility verification by organizations such as the Veterans Affairs for benefits and by memorialization programs like the American Battle Monuments Commission and Arlington National Cemetery. Administrative changes over time have reflected lessons from mass casualty events including Okinawa campaign, Battle of the Bulge, and Iraq insurgency operations.
Notable Recipients and Incidents
Recipients span from Revolutionary War veterans recognized retroactively to 20th- and 21st-century figures. Notable awardees include leaders and public figures such as John F. Kennedy for his World War II service, Daniel Inouye for World War II action with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Audie Murphy for later recognition alongside the Medal of Honor, and Jimmy Carter for Navy service. High-profile incidents involving Purple Heart awards include the mass issuance following Iwo Jima, controversies over awards after Operation Eagle Claw, debates around Pat Tillman's death and subsequent Purple Heart, and posthumous awards for Korean War and Vietnam War POW/MIA cases. Contemporary recipients include service members from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and major commemorations occur at sites such as the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New York.
Controversies and Reforms
Controversies have centered on eligibility interpretations—such as awards for non-combatant hazards, training accidents, and friendly fire—and administrative issues like record loss at the National Personnel Records Center and delayed recognition for minority veterans including Japanese American and African American service members. High-profile cases—Pat Tillman, posthumous corrections for Native American and Hispanic veterans, and disputes after Black Hawk Down—prompted policy reviews by the Department of Defense and advocacy from organizations like the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Reforms have included tightened evidentiary standards, electronic medical record integration with the Military Health System, and legislative attention from members of Congress such as John McCain and Daniel K. Inouye who sought clearer rules on awards, retroactive reviews, and the relationship between the Purple Heart and veteran benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.