The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded to service members who have been wounded or killed in action, or who die as a result of wounds received in action. It is presented in the name of the President and is one of the oldest U.S. military awards with a distinctive purple heart-shaped medal. Key points:
- History: The Purple Heart traces its roots to George Washington’s Badge of Military Merit, established in 1782. The modern Purple Heart was created later to recognize those wounded or killed in the line of duty. Washington’s original badge predates the current form of the award by more than a century [history and origins vary by source, but share this lineage].
- Eligibility: It is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action after April 5, 1917. It may be awarded posthumously. The award is issued without regard to rank or conduct; merit or length of service is not a requirement for the Purple Heart itself.
- Design: The medal features a purple heart-shaped pendant or ribbon with the profile of George Washington on the front and the inscription "For Military Merit" on the back in some versions; the design has evolved slightly over time.
- Placement: It is typically one of the higher-priority personal decorations, often shown after combat-related awards like the Bronze Star.
- Observance: Purple Heart Day is observed on August 7 in recognition of its 1782 origin.
If you want, I can pull up concise, up-to-date summaries from reliable sources or provide a short comparison with other U.S. military valor and merit decorations.
