Receiving a Purple Heart is only one part of a service member’s story—recovery and care are the rest. To assist, the USO has constructed Warrior and Family Centers at locations such as Fort Belvoir, Landstuhl, Bethesda, and San Antonio.
These facilities are meant to provide injured soldiers and their families with a soothing respite from the hospital environment. Completely ADA-accessible and filled with therapeutic activities, they are a healing place and a connection point. For Gold Star Families—families who have lost loved ones while in service—USO Delaware has been a constant source of comfort since 1991, with care and support for dignified transfers at Dover Air Force Base. The USO ensures Purple Heart recipients and their families are cared for long after the medals are given through these programs.
9. USO’s Lifeline for Purple Heart Recipients and Their Families
8. The Record for Most Purple Hearts Granted
Some troops have been injured so many times in combat that they’ve been awarded several Purple Hearts—an unimaginable measure of sacrifice. The late Curry T. Haynes set the record with ten awards, all granted during the Vietnam War. Initially struck by enemy fire, Haynes came back to action following surgery only to be wounded again, losing two fingers in a grenade blast. Every injury brought him another Purple Heart, and every time he came back to duty demonstrated his remarkable determination. Haynes died in July 2017, leaving a legacy of unmatched commitment.
7. The Only President with a Purple Heart: John F. Kennedy
Of all the U.S. presidents, only John F. Kennedy has ever worn the Purple Heart. During World War II, while in the Navy, Kennedy’s patrol torpedo boat was hit by a Japanese destroyer off the Solomon Islands. Though wounded in the back, he swam three miles to shore, towing a wounded crewman, grasping the man’s life jacket strap between his teeth. His act of heroism got him not only the Purple Heart but also the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and he became one of the best-decorated commanders-in-chief in history.
6. Breaking Barriers: The First Women to Receive the Purple Heart
Women have also made their mark in Purple Heart history. Army Lt. Annie G. Fox was the first female recipient in 1942 for her leadership as the chief nurse at Pearl Harbor during the attack. Next was Cordelia “Betty” Cook, a World War II combat nurse who was the first woman to be awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. She was shrapnel-wounded on the Italian front but refused to vacate her station, where she continued to care for the wounded while under fire.
5. Renowned Purple Heart Recipients from All Walks of Life
The medal has been awarded to and pinned on more than just military legends. Marine legend Lewis “Chesty” Puller, actors James Arness and Charles Bronson, writers Kurt Vonnegut and Oliver Stone, and athletes such as Pat Tillman and Rocky Bleier are among those who have received it. Even pets have been rewarded for courage—World War I dog Sgt. Stubby and Korean War horse Sgt. Reckless is among the most bizarre recipients of the award. These accounts verify the Purple Heart’s reach extends far beyond the battlefield.
4. The First Purple Hearts Presented
The Purple Heart traced its origins to the Revolutionary War, when William Brown and Elijah Churchill were awarded the Badge of Military Merit by George Washington himself. Brown had distinguished himself at the Siege of Yorktown; Churchill in bravery near Fort St. George. Cut to the 20th century, and the first contemporary Purple Heart was awarded to General Douglas MacArthur for his command of the Pacific campaign in World War II.
3. How the Purple Heart Acquired Its Contemporary Shape
The Purple Heart of today was created in 1932 by General Douglas MacArthur to commemorate George Washington’s 200th birthday. Washington’s profile appeared on the medal, and it was awarded only to Army and Army Air Corps men who were killed or wounded in action. In 1942, all branches of the military were eligible, and posthumous awards were authorized. The regulations have been developed over time to align with the changing nature of warfare.
2. A Medal for All Ranks
Right from the start, the Badge of Military Merit, the forerunner of the Purple Heart, was unique in that it was awarded to enlisted men as well as officers. When most military honors were reserved for commanders, this was a radical step. Nowadays, any soldier, in any rank, who is wounded or killed by enemy action can be awarded the Purple Heart, continuing its founding principle of equality of recognition.
1. The Nation’s Oldest Military Decoration Continues in Use
The Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest military award still presented today. Its ancestry starts with the 1780 Fidelity Medallion, but its actual basis is the Badge of Military Merit established by George Washington in 1782. At the time, it was a plain purple cloth heart given for acts of extraordinary courage, loyalty, or service. Almost 250 years on, that same heart—in medal form—still serves to commemorate those who have borne the cost of defending the country.
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