National Purple Heart Day

On August 7, 1782, George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit – he awarded the distinction to only three members of his Army, although others were awarded the medal. After World War I, the Purple Heart Medal in it’s current form, replaced “Wound Stripes” as recognition for service members who were wounded or killed in action.

The Department of Defense lists the eligibility criteria for the Purple Heart Medal;

(1) Eligibility Criteria

(a) In accordance with Reference (p) the PH is awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received under any of the following circumstances:

1. In any action against an enemy of the United States.

2. In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the U.S. Armed Forces are or have been engaged.

3. 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.

4. As a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces.

5. As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force.

6. After March 28, 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 for purposes of award of the PH by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned, or jointly by the Secretaries of the Military Departments concerned if members from more than one Military Department are wounded in the attack. The Secretary of the Military Department concerned shall notify the USD(P&R) prior to awarding the PH for an international terrorist attack that occurs in the United States or its territories.

7. After March 28, 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.

8. On or after December 7, 1941, a Service member who is killed or wounded in action as the result of action by friendly weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict, other than as a result of an act of an enemy of the United States, unless (in the case of a wound) the wound is the result of willful misconduct of the member (in accordance with section 1129 of Reference (f)).

9. Before April 25, 1962, while held as a prisoner of war (or while being taken captive) in the same manner as a former prisoner of war who is wounded on or after that date while held as a prisoner of war (in accordance with section 521 of Public Law (P.L.) 104-106 (Reference (q))).

10. On or after December 7, 1941, to a Service member who is killed or dies while in captivity as a prisoner of war (POW) under circumstances establishing eligibility for the POW medal pursuant to section 1128 of Reference (f), and section 15, Enclosure 3, Volume 2 of this Manual, unless compelling evidence is presented that shows that the member’s death was not the result of enemy action.

11. After September 11, 2001, pursuant to section 1129a of Reference (f), to a Service member on active duty who is killed or wounded in an attack by a foreign terrorist organizations in circumstances where the death or wound is the result of an attack targeted on the member due to such member’s status as a member of the armed forces. An attack by an individual or entity shall be considered to be a foreign terrorist attack if the individual or entity was in communication with the foreign terrorist organization before the attack and the attack was inspired or motivated by the foreign terrorist organization.

a. An award is not authorized if the death or wound was the result of the willful misconduct of the member.

b. To assist in making a PH determination pursuant to section 1129a of Reference (f), the Military Department Secretary concerned may request an intelligence assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agencies’ Defense Combating Terrorism Center (DCTC). The DCTC assessment of potential foreign terrorist attacks by an individual or entity will assess whether the individual or entity was in communication with the foreign terrorist organization before the attack and if the attack was inspired or motivated by the foreign terrorist organization. The assessment shall include supporting citations and rationale.

(b) A wound for which the award is made must have been of such severity that it required treatment, not merely examination, by a medical officer. Additionally, treatment of the wound shall be documented in the Service member’s medical and/or health record. Award of the PH may be made for wounds treated by a medical professional other than a medical officer provided a medical officer includes a statement in the Service member’s medical record that the extent of the wounds were such that they would have required treatment by a medical officer if one had been available to treat them.

(d) The PH may be awarded posthumously and, when so directed, may be presented to such representatives of the deceased as the Secretary concerned considers appropriate.

Like the POW Medal, only phonies really *want* the Purple Heart Medal – the rest of us understand the cost that it represents.

Category: Military issues