The Purple Heart Medallion is award to United States Military members who have been injured or killed while fighting opposing forces. It is awarded in the name of the President of the United States and has been in recognition since April of 1917. George Washington who was the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army created the Award in 1782. It was originally called the Badge of Military Merit and was awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers. Until then though, the award was not given until World War I. Under the name of the Purple Heart, the medallion was first awarded on February 22, 1932. It is the oldest award to still be given to members of the United States Military.
To receive the award, one must be injured by the enemy in battle meeting certain criteria. For example, wounds from bullets, shrapnel, projectiles, landmines, as well as chemical and biological weapons, and more. But, injuries like trench foot or frostbite, which are indirectly caused by the enemy, do not satisfy the requirements for the award. Since 1997, the Purple Heart Award is only awarded to men and women in uniform; civilians who meet the criteria but are not in the military receive the Defense of Freedom Medal. The award comes upon recommendation from the person’s chain of command and is then reviewed to ensure wounds were sustained from enemies in battle.
As of June 5, 2010 there have been 1,910,162 recipients of the award. The Vietnam War has the most receivers of the award at 351,794. The Iraq War tallied up 35,321. The award is recorded in written and electronic form. Recipients receive a plaque as well as the medal itself, which is shaped in a heart with George Washington’s head in the medal. It hangs from a purple strap and on the reverse side, engraved in the metal says, “For Military Merit”.
