what is the purple heart award?

The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action or as a result of hostile action while serving in the U.S. armed forces. It is one of the oldest and most widely recognized American decorations, with its origins tracing back to George Washington’s Badge of Military Merit in 1782, and it is typically presented to recognize personal sacrifice in combat or hostile environments.