2 Generals & 4 Presidents Transformed 1 Purple Heart
Do you know how 2 generals & 4 presidents transformed 1 Purple Heart?
The oldest award for valor, which almost disappeared from existence, has now been awarded to almost two million people.
All Purple Hearts, while presented by various military officials, are bestowed on behalf of the president of the United States.
Groups of people have updated the award over the years. Several National Defense Authorization Acts have affected the Purple Heart as well as the Purple Heart Family Equity Act.
However, this post specifically emphasizes how two generals and four presidents have transformed the Purple Heart.
The first general didn’t actually transform it. He created it.
Gen. George Washington Created the First Purple Heart
Seven years before he became America’s first president, General George Washington created the first “purple heart” in 1782.
Made out of purple cloth, the Badge of Military Merit was to recognize Continental Army soldiers for commendable and gallant service during the American Revolution.
Only three of Washington’s purple heart badges were awarded. Then,
General Douglas MacArthur Revived the Heart on Washington’s Birthday
In 1930, Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur wrote a letter to Charles Moore describing how the War Department planned to “revive” the purple heart.
It came to pass on February 22, 1932, Presidents’ Day, commemorating Washington’s 200th birthday. General MacArthur, age 52, reinstated and renamed the Badge of Military Merit as “the Purple Heart.”
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Also, the award was made retroactive so 250,000 WWI doughboys were eligible to receive it. That included General Douglas MacArthur.
Only For Those Wounded or Killed
MacArthur intended the award to be for “any singularly meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service.”
However, the War Department would later change that in September 1942 stating the Purple Heart would exclusively be “an award for those wounded or killed in action.”
Army History.org states “About 270 Purple Hearts for achievement or service—and not for wounds—were awarded prior to this change in policy, which makes them exceedingly rare.”
(Public domain photo)
Franklin D. Roosevelt Revamped the Purple Heart to Include Sailors
What initially was only awarded to the Army’s soldiers, President Franklin D. Roosevelt revamped the eligibility of the Purple Heart through Executive Order 9277 to include sailors.
On December 3, 1942, FDR retroactively awarded eligibility to the Navy, the Marines, and the Coast Guard of the United States to December 6, 1941.
Purple Heart Animal Recipients
During FDR’s years at the White House, other interesting circumstances involving the Purple Heart arose. It was unique, and to some controversial, when a dog named Chips, a member of the K-9 Corps, received a purple heart. But that’s another story.
However, if I pause to mention Chips, then I must also mention the war horse, Sgt. Reckless, who also earned a purple heart. Look them up. Their stories are fascinating.
Harry Truman Pushed the Date for the Purple Heart
President Roosevelt’s Executive Order only extended the awarding of Purple Hearts to the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
President Harry Truman pushed the date back further. He extended the eligibility to the military branches as far back as April 5,
A sober sidenote about President Truman is that on his desk he kept a personal reminder of the sadness and suffering that’s associated with the Purple Heart. He received a rebuking letter from grieving parents blaming him for the death of their son in the Korean War. Along with the letter, they returned to Truman their son’s Purple Heart.
John F. Kennedy Incorporated Noncombatants
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy incorporated eligibility for civilians or noncombatant military personnel who were wounded or killed while serving with the military forces.
Also, due to the complexity in terminology about the Vietnam war, JFK signed Executive Order 11016 which awarded the Purple Heart to any person wounded or killed “while serving with friendly forces” or “as a result of action by a hostile foreign force.”
An interesting side note about JFK is that thus far, he has been the only American president to receive a purple heart. That, too, is an amazing story to read.
Civilians No Longer Eligible
JFK’s inclusion of civilians’ eligibility for the Purple Heart would change. Later, on May 19, 1998, civilians would no longer be eligible to receive a purple heart. The award would only be for military personnel.
However, a medal similar to the Purple Heart, the Defense of Freedom medal, was established for civilians following the attacks on 9-11.
Ronald Reagan Adds the Areas of Terrorist Attacks & Peacekeeping Missions
In Executive Order 12464, President Reagan extended the Purple Heart award to those killed or wounded in areas of terrorist attacks after March 28, 1973.
Also included were American military personnel serving outside of the U.S. on peacekeeping missions.
(public domain photos)
In Honor
We don’t have to wait for Presidents’ Day, Veterans Day, or Purple Heart Recognition Day. In honor of George Washington and all of our presidents who have supported our country’s military personnel over the years, and in special honor and in memory of those who have received a Purple Heart, let’s take time to show our appreciation to our living veterans and to those who are currently serving our country.
Two generals and four presidents may have added a special touch to the eligibility of the Purple Heart. But our kind deeds and thoughtful words may help transform a different kind of heart.
What are your thoughts about the Purple Heart? Do you know someone who has received one?
References
Borch, F. L. (2018, June 27). The Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army. Retrieved February 15, 2020, from https://armyhistory.org/the-purple-heart-the-story-of-americas-oldest-military-decoration-and-some-soldier-recipients/
Edwards, J. (2017, November 18). He created the Purple Heart award only to make himself the first recipient: The inexplicable controversial life of General Douglas MacArthur. War History Online. https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/he-created-the-purple-heart-award-only-to-make-himself-the-first-recipient-the-inexplicable-controversial-life-of-general-douglas-macarthur.html
Senate Resolution 591, 115th Congress (2017–18), “A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.”
Woolley, J., & Peters, G. (n.d.). Executive Order 9277—AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART TO PERSONS SERVING WITH THE NAVY, MARINE CORPS OR COAST GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES | The American Presidency Project. www.Presidency.Ucsb.Edu; The American Presidency Project. Retrieved February 13, 2020, from https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-9277-award-the-purple-heart-persons-serving-with-the-navy-marine-corps-or-coast-guard-of-the-united-states
2 Comments
Diane Buie
Great article! 🙂 Love the history and learned more than I really knew before about the Purple Heart.
Sally Matheny
Hi, Diane. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I learned a great deal as well.
I may have to revisit those stories about the animals who have received Purple Hearts. 🙂