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12 unusual facts about purple heart


Alan Hamlyn

In 1967, he moved to the United States and later spent at least one tour with the U.S. Army in Vietnam where he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star Medal.

California State Capitol Museum

By the Veterans Memorial stands the Purple Heart Monument, in honor of those veterans killed, wounded, or disabled in combat.

Dorothy Mengering

In 1983, she married again, this time to Hans Mengering, a retired engineer and decorated World War II veteran.

Henry Grethel

He was a member of the U.S. Army, 401st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division and was awarded the Purple Heart.

Herman Maisel

He was later given an Honorary Discharge and was awarded with a Purple Heart.

John D. Vanderhoof

Born in Rocky Ford, Colorado, Vanderhoof worked in the family sporting goods business and was a banker and served in Naval Aviation during World War II, and received two Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals.

M. Ben Gaeth

After graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1943 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Gaeth enlisted in the US Navy serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II and received the Purple Heart.

Posthumous promotion

The Purple Heart is one such award which is routinely presented posthumously to service members killed in action.

Tennessee State Route 374

Warfield Boulevard and Richview Road are both two-lane sections and the 101st Parkway and the Purple Heart Parkway are both four-lane divided highways with partially controlled access, meeting the federal (MUTCD) definition of an expressway.

The Corps Series

He is awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received and a Bronze Star for his performance under fire and his efforts to save Captain Banning.

Veteran identification card

The VIC will only display the Veteran's name, picture, and special eligibility indicators - Service Connected, Purple Heart and Former POW, if applicable, on the front of the card.

Wound Medal

In addition, other countries have or have had military decorations for wounded servicemembers under other names, such as the United States Purple Heart, the German Wound Badge of World War I and World War II, the Japanese Wound Badges (Shoigunjinsho) and the Jordanian Badge for the War Wounded.


1782 in the United States

August 7 – George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit (or the Order of the Purple Heart) to honor soldiers' merit in battle (reinstated later by Franklin D. Roosevelt and renamed to the more poetic "Purple Heart" to honor soldiers wounded in action).

Andrew Leo Bettwy

His studies were interrupted by the war in Europe where he served as an armored car commander in a reconnaissance squadron during the push from Calais to Berchtesgaden, earning two battle stars and a Purple Heart.

Charley Trujillo

He served there as a sergeant in the infantry, earning both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal.

Clifton B. Cates

For his heroism in the Aisne defensive at Boursches and Belleau Wood, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross and Oak Leaf Cluster, in addition to the Purple Heart.

Cybercast News Service

Under editor David Thibault, CNSNews.com questioned the validity of the circumstances in which Democratic Rep. John Murtha received his Purple Hearts as a response to Murtha's criticisms of the U.S. War in Iraq.

Don the Beachcomber

He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star while setting up rest camps for combat-weary airmen of the 12th and 15th Air Forces in Capri, Nice, Cannes, the French Riviera, Venice, the Lido and Sorrento at the order of his friend, Lieutenant General Jimmy Doolittle.

Jimmie E. Howard

For his service in Korea, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart, and the Navy Unit Commendation.

Joe Golding

His 1951 Bowman football card #115 relates the following: "In the service for 44 months. Won Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart. Commissioned on the battlefield while an infantry-man in Europe".

John W. Leonard

For his bravery in the battlefield near the village of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Major Leonard was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart French Legion of Honor, Croix de Guerre with Palm and French Fourragère.

John W. O'Daniel

His decorations include the French Croix de Guerre, the British Order of the Bath, the Italian Silver Medal, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.

Jon R. Thomas

Thomas spent 1966 through 1969 as a member of the U.S. Special Forces, earning a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

Legion of Merit

The reverse of all of the medals has the motto taken from the Great Seal of the United States "ANNUIT COEPTIS" (He (God) Has Favored Our Undertakings) and the date "MDCCLXXXII" (1782), which is the date of America's first decoration, the Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart.

Leon C. Standifer

He served in the U.S. Army in World War II as a scout in the infantry from 1943–46 and he received Combat Infantryman Badge and the Purple Heart.

M. B. Etheredge

During the war Col. Etheredge also received two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts; he was eventually discharged with the highest efficiency rating of any officer discharged from the Fourth Army; this dauntless soldier later served three terms in the Texas Legislature and taught for 33 years at Sam Houston State University.

Media Research Center

Under editor David Thibault, CNSNews.com questioned the validity of the circumstances in which Democratic Rep. John Murtha received his purple hearts as a response to Murtha's criticisms of the U.S. War in Iraq.

Robert J. Natter

His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3 awards), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (five awards), Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, and various unit and campaign awards.

Scott Camil

He served with the Marines from 1965 to 1969, earning two Purple Hearts, Combat Action Ribbon, two Presidential Unit Citations, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Leaf, and Vietnam Campaign Medal during two tours in Vietnam.

Skippy Roberge

But in late 1944, as the Allied Forces advanced, Roberge was sent to the front lines, where he was wounded in the Roer River crossing at Linnich, Germany on February 14, 1945, which earned him the Purple Heart.

William B. Rosson

In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest decoration for valor, General Rosson's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.