Purple Heart

Purple Heart
TypeMilitary medal (Decoration)
Awarded for"Being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces"
DescriptionObverse profile of George Washington
Presented byUnited States Department of the Army[1]
United States Department of the Navy[2]
United States Department of the Air Force[3]
United States Department of Homeland Security[4]
EligibilityMilitary personnel
StatusCurrently awarded
First awarded22 February 1932
TotalApproximately 1,910,162 (as of 5 June 2010)[5]
Total awarded posthumouslyApproximately 430,000
Total recipientsover 2,000,000 (including eligible casualties in World War I who may not have been awarded the Purple Heart)
Websitemedia.defense.gov
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Bronze Star Medal[6]
Next (lower)Defense Meritorious Service Medal[6]

The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York.

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Info" (PDF). static.e-publishing.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Data" (PDF). media.defense.gov. 2017.
  5. ^ "History: Purple Hearts". National Geographic (November 2008): 33.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference DoDM1348.33V3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).