Can you deny a Purple Heart?

The soldiers' commanding general typically makes the final decision to award or deny a Purple Heart. The Army's official list of wounds that "clearly justify" the award includes, "Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions."

Who decides who gets a Purple Heart?

Currently, the Purple Heart, per regulation is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917 has been wounded, killed, or has died after ...

Can a Purple Heart be taken away?

A Purple Heart Medal can be revoked for a variety of reasons. The nature of a wound or death can be re-evaluated if prompted by a commanding officer or at the unit level and higher. Also, the nature of an engagement with a hostile enemy is subject to debate as well.

Do you get a Purple Heart for every wound?

While the award of the Purple Heart is considered automatic for all wounds received in combat, each award presentation must still be reviewed to ensure that the wounds received were as a result of enemy action. Modern day Purple Heart presentations are recorded in both hardcopy and electronic service records.

Can you get a Purple Heart from friendly fire?

The Purple Heart is awarded to military members who are injured and killed in combat, through an act of terrorism or by friendly fire.

How To Get A Purple Heart After Discharge

Does PTSD qualify Purple Heart?

The regulation lists PTSD as an injury that clearly does not meet these requirements. The Purple Heart has never been awarded for mental or psychological problems.

What is the requirements for a Purple Heart?

To receive the Purple Heart, the Army's current regulations require that a soldier be injured by enemy action and receive documented treatment from a medical officer. The Army's official list of wounds that "clearly justify" the award includes, "Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions."

How much is a Purple Heart worth?

In today's military collectibles market, Purple Hearts doled out during World War II tend to be worth $300 to $400, Kraska said.

Do Purple Heart recipients get paid?

This special pay is considered an entitlement (tax-free) paid in addition to “any retired pay” the veteran is already entitled to. In order to qualify as a Purple Heart recipient, veterans must apply via their branch of the military meet the following conditions: Be entitled to and/or receiving military retired pay.

Are Purple Hearts public record?

The awarding of Purple Hearts was a decentralized process and there is no single collection of records for purple heart award files. General orders awarding Purple Hearts are typically found in individual unit records or the records of the military hospital where the soldier was treated.

What happens if you lose your Purple Heart?

They will either be returned to their rightful owner, if they can be found, or if we cannot locate the owner, the medal will be included in our traveling exhibition or loaned to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor for display.

What is the rarest military medal?

The Victoria Cross is the 'holy grail' for medal collectors because there are only 1,357 in existence. Bearing the inscription 'For valour' and known as a VC, this medal was first awarded for 'conspicuous bravery' in 1856 and later backdated to the Crimean war of 1854.

What benefits do you get with a Purple Heart?

Are Purple Hearts made of gold?

Inscribed on the reverse of the medal reads, “FOR MILITARY MERIT.” While gold in color, it's important to note that the Purple Heart does not actually contain real gold. Instead, it's made of gilding-metal. The copper alloy is composed of copper and zinc, technically making it a form of brass, not gold.

What items does Purple Heart not accept?

Has anyone won 2 medals of honor?

Perhaps the most notable two-time Medal of Honor recipients are Smedley Butler and Dan Daly, both Marines who began their careers in the late-19th century before serving in World War I. Butler received his first medal for guiding his men through a firefight during U.S. involvement in the Mexican Revolution in 1914.

Can you buy a Purple Heart medal?

Currently, only the Medal of Honor is exempt from resale. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, anyone caught buying or selling a Medal of Honor can face fines and up a year in prison. Under federal law, anyone outside the military caught doing so can be slapped with fines of up to $100,000 and a year in jail.

Who received the most Purple Hearts?

Albert L. Ireland – Marine Corps. Staff Sergeant Albert Ireland has the distinction of being awarded the most Purple Hearts of any individual across all branches of service. During his 12 years of service – spanning two wars from 1941 to 1953 – Ireland was wounded a total of nine times.

Do Purple Hearts have names on them?

Most often, Purple Hearts are engraved with the Veterans name. This normally signifies them as “Presentation Purple Hearts”, which means the Veteran was killed in combat and the government had the medal engraved and sent it to the family.

Can you sell a Purple Heart on eBay?

While eBay does not allow the listing of individual Purple Heart medals, you can often find affordable memorabilia associated with the Purple Heart medal, such as presentation cases or ribbons on eBay for your collection.

Do Medal of Honor recipients get paid?

A Monthly Pension and Special Retirement Pay

As of Dec. 1, 2020, Medal of Honor recipients receive a $1,406.73 monthly pension with annual cost-of-living increases in line with the Social Security Administration's increases.

How many Purple Heart recipients are there?

How many Purple Hearts have been awarded? As there was not a consistent record kept since the award was established in 1932, we can only estimate the total number which have been awarded. At this time, it estimated that there may have been 1.8 million Purple Hearts awarded.

Is there a registry of Purple Heart recipients?

Find a Recipient

Search our Roll of Honor database of Purple Heart recipients. If you do not find who you are looking for, please note our list is incomplete. Enrollment is voluntary. We rely on family, friends and recipients to share their stories with us.

Can you get a Purple Heart for Agent Orange?

"Today, there is a new group of Vietnam vets who are spreading the myth that anyone diagnosed with an Agent Orange related illness is eligible for the Purple Heart. This claim is also false." "The Purple Heart can be legally awarded under three circumstances. One, injury or death resulting from enemy fire.