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Serving in the United States military is an honor. Serving in the United States military in combat is a distinction few achieve. Even among combat veterans, the Purple Heart, awarded to those wounded or killed in combat with the enemy, receives a special and heartfelt nod of respect.
August 7th is Purple Heart Day. We should strive to remember and assist those that receive the Purple Heart every day. On August 7th, these 10 unique items about the Purple Heart make the day stand out.
10 Things to Remember About the Purple Heart
- The Purple Heart’s Legacy Began in the Revolutionary War.
During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington created the
Badge of Military Merit. The Badge of Military Merit is the direct
predecessor to the Purple Heart. General Washington designed the badge
in the form of a cloth purple heart, and it was to be awarded to
soldiers who displayed “not only instances of unusual gallantry in
battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any
way.”
- An Estimated 1.8 Million Purple Hearts Have Been Awarded.
The modern Purple Heart was established in 1932, but there was not a
modern system of record keeping established with the award. It estimated
that there may have been 1.8 million Purple Hearts awarded.
- The Modern Purple Heart was Designed by General Douglas MacArthur. In 1932, General Douglas MacArthur redesigned the Purple Heart for the 100th
anniversary of George Washington’s birthday. The redesigned medal was
to be a combat decoration, recognizing commendable action as well as
those wounded or killed in combat. In 1944, the Purple Heart was awarded
to only those service members killed or wounded in combat.
- Enlisted Soldiers Received the First Predecessor of the Modern Purple Heart.
Revolutionary war soldiers William Brown and Elijah Churchill were the
first soldiers to receive the Badge of Military Merit, the predecessor
to the Purple Heart. Brown for his service during the Siege of Yorktown
and Churchill for gallantry at a battle near Fort St. George on Long
Island.
- President John F. Kennedy is the only President Awarded the Purple Heart.
President Kennedy was awarded the Purple Heart when he was injured when
his famous “PT 109” was sunk by a Japanese Destroyer in the Pacific
during World War II.
- 10 Purple Heart Awards is the Record. A US Army
Soldier during the Vietnam War, Curry T. Haynes, currently holds the
record for the largest number of Purple Hearts bestowed upon a single
service member. Haynes received his first Purple Heart during a jungle
ambush. Then, after recovering and returning to his unit, he was injured
nine separate times in a series of attacks on a single day and survived
his injuries.
- US Army Nurse Beatrice Mary MacDonald – The First Woman Awarded the Purple Heart.
Chief Nurse MacDonald Cook was a US Army nurse serving in France in
World War I. German aircraft bombed her hospital, severely wounding her
eye from shell fragmentation. She lost her right eye and remained in the
Army and served through the remainder of WWI.
- Purple Hearts Can Still Be Awarded Years Later. The
Miami Class United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Tampa was lost in
September 1918. It was only in 2019, that historians finally proved that
all 131 persons on board Tampa were lost when the vessel was sunk by a
German torpedo from a German submarine. All lost crewmembers were
awarded the Purple Heart over 100 years later.
- The Veterans Administration Prioritizes Care for Purple Heart Recipients.
Starting in 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began to
prioritize medical care for military veterans awarded the Purple Heart.
- You Can Register Family Members Who Received the Purple Heart. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is both a museum about the Purple Heart and they maintain a database to record and discover all Purple Heart recipients.
Purple Heart recipients need to be remembered every day, not just on August 7th. Be sure to reach out and thank them for all they have done!
By Chad Storlie USAA | Article source
Author Biography: Chad Storlie is a Retired US Army Officer, the author of Combat Leader to Corporate Leader and has published over 460 articles in over 206 publications on military veterans, career advancement, business, leadership, strategy, education, financial planning, and national security topics. Chad excels as an author, mentor, speaker, and teacher showing business leaders and military veterans how military skills make lives, careers, and businesses better. Chad is an adjunct Professor of Marketing at the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management. Chad has a BA from Northwestern University and an MBA from Georgetown University. Follow Chad @CombatToCorp and www.CombatToCorporate.com.
