It's befitting that the Purple Heart—one of the most recognizable, distinguished and oldest military honors—was first conceived by George Washington, our country’s highest-ranking officer and first president.
Purple Heart Day, annually recognized on August 7th, is a time to reflect on the bravery and courage of military men and women who bear the battle scars that have helped to secure our freedom.
What is the Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a military distinction of bravery and sacrifice. This highly distinguished and recognizable award is given to service members from all branches and ranks of the U.S. military who are wounded or killed during combat with the enemy.
Through its existence, about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded. One president, a few entertainers and athletes, and even some beloved military animals have earned a Purple Heart through the years.
Receiving a Purple Heart is a solemn recognition of sacrifice during service. Qualifications for this award include serious injury as a result of conflict with enemy forces. President Roosevelt expanded the guidelines to award the Purple Heart posthumously to service members who were killed in action, bestowing the honor to the recipient’s next of kin.
In addition to this honorable recognition, recipients receive state and federal benefits such as Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits and fee waivers, automatic GI Bill benefits and discounts on VA home loans. Many nonprofits also provide benefits and support.
The nation’s oldest military award
The Purple Heart has deep roots in America’s military history, dating back nearly 250 years—although it began under a different name.
Many military honors existed in Europe but were awarded to officers. Then-Gen. George Washington wanted a military award that recognized service and sacrifice regardless of rank.
In 1780, the Continental Congress created the Fidelity Medallion, which was awarded to three soldiers. The honor was never presented again. Washington then developed the Badge of Military Merit, the first U.S. military decoration that he said was given for “not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way.”
Washington designed the medal to include a heart of purple cloth or silk, outlined in lace binding, which, of course, influenced the modern award.
Only a handful of soldiers received the Badge of Military Merit. The first recipients included William Brown for his service during the Siege of Yorktown and Elijiah Churchill for the battle at Fort St. George on Long Island. The honor was not awarded between the Revolutionary War and World War I. It took 150 years for the award to be revamped and once again awarded.
Reinstituting a modern merit
A century and a half after Washington bestowed the Badge of Military Merit on deserving soldiers, it was finally revived. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then-U.S. Army Chief of Staff, brought the merit back to life on the bicentennial of Washington’s birthday, Feb. 22, 1932.
The modernized version of the award was given for “a wound, which necessitates treatment by a medical officer, and which is received in action with an enemy of the United States, or as a result of an act of such enemy, may…be construed as resulting from a singularly meritorious act of essential service.”
Designed by Miss Elizabeth Will, an Army heraldic specialist in the Office of the Quartermaster General, the award includes a purple enameled heart with a bronze border and relief profile of George Washington, drawing from the inspiration of the inaugural merit. Inside the heart reads, “For Military Merit,” and includes a space to engrave the name of the recipient.
Gen. MacArthur was the first to receive the modern Purple Heart for his service in the Pacific theater during World War II.
Since then, nearly 2 million service members have received Purple Hearts for their bravery and service. Over 1 million of those honors were bestowed among men and women who were seriously injured or killed during World War II.
Notable Purple Heart recipients
The Purple Heart is a high recognition for anyone serving in the military, but a few recipients stand out over time.
Only one president has received a Purple Heart for his service: President John F. Kennedy. While serving in the Navy during World War II, Kennedy’s patrol torpedo was hit by a destroyer near the Solomon Islands. He saved his badly burned crewmate, despite his own back injury, by swimming 3 miles while pulling the man with his life jacket strap firmly held between his teeth.
U.S. Army Lt. Annie G. Fox was the first woman to receive a Purple Heart for her service as a chief nurse at Hickman Field, Hawaii, during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Several service members have received multiple Purple Hearts. Curry T. Haynes, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, received a total of 10 Purple Hearts for the multiple injuries he sustained—the most to date.
Two military animals earned Purple Hearts for their service. Sgt. Stubby the Dog received two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained by being gassed and getting hit by a grenade. Sgt. Reckless the Horse earned his two Purple Hearts for injuries during the Battle of Vegas.
Famous actors, writers, athletes and more also have earned this honor for their service, including actors Oliver Stone, James Garner and Charles Bronson; athletes Robert “Rocky” Bleire, Warren Spahn and Pat Tillman; and playwright Kurt Vonnegut, among others.
Honoring and remembering
There are many organizations that recognize and support Purple Heart recipients for their sacrifice and service. For example, the USO developed four USO Warrior and Family Centers—three in the U.S. and one abroad—that provide injured service members and their families with a comfortable place to stay while they await medical procedures. The USO also has a long history of supporting Gold Star Families who’s loved one has made the ultimate sacrifice.
On August 7, Purple Heart Day, remember to set aside some time to reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of all the service members who have served. If able, find a way to thank someone in the military or volunteer your time with a veterans group to show appreciation.
IHG® Army Hotels is proud to serve the men and women who serve our nation. Our team consists of many veterans and their families, and we are beyond grateful for our military’s bravery and service.
