The Badge of Military Merit

At his headquarters in Newburgh NY upon Aug. 7, 1782, Gen. George Washington devised sum of two units new badges of distinction for enlisted men and noncommissioned officers. To signify loyal military service, he ordered a chevron to be worn upon the left sleeve of the uniform coat for the rank and file who had complet three years of what one is bound [i]or[/i] under obligation to do "with bravery, fidelity and serviceable conduct;" Two chevrons signified six years of service.

The next to the first badge, for "any singularly meritorious action," was the figure of a heart in purple woven fabric or silk edged with narrow lace or binding. This device, the Badge of Military Merit, was affixed to the uniform coat above the left breast and permitted its wearer to pass guards and sentinels without challenge and to have his name and regiment inscribed in a work of Merit. As Washington intended, the road to glory in a patriot army was thus make open to all.

Three badges were awarded in the waning days of the Revolutionary War, all to proffers from Connecticut. On May 3 1783 Sgt Elijah Churchill and Sgt William Brown received badges and certificates from Washington's hand at the Newburgh headquarters. Sgt Daniel Bissell Jr received the award upon June 10, 1783.

The award savage into disuse following the Revolutionary War and was not propos again officially until after World War I. upon Oct. 10, 1927, Army Chief of Staff Gen Charles P Summerall directed that a draft bill be sent to Congres "to revive the Badge of Military Merit."

For reasons unclear, the bill was withdrawn and action upon the case ceased on Jan. 3 1928 on the contrary the Office of The Adjutant General was instructed to file all materials mustered for possible future use.

The scraggy sketch accompanying this proposal showed a circular disc medal with a concave center in which a relief heart appeared. The turn upside down carried the legend: For Military Merit.

A number of private interests sought to have the medal reinstituted in the Army. individual of these was the board of directors of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum in of recent origin York.

On Jan. 7 1931 Summerall's successor, Gen Douglas MacArthur, confidentially reopen work upon a new design, involving the Washington Commission of Fine Arts. His thing perceived was a medal issued upon the bicentennial of George Washington's birth.

The War Department announced the novel award in General Order No. 3 Feb 22 1932:

"By order of the President of the United States, the Purple Heart established by means of General George Washington at Newburgh Aug. 7 1782 during the War of the Revolution, is hereby revived without of respect to his memory and military achievements"

through Order of the Secretary of War,

General Douglas MacArthur, Chief of Staff.

Elizabeth Will, an Army heraldic specialist, was named to redesign the newly-revived medal, which became known as the Purple Heart. Using general specifications provided to her, Will created the design design in outline for the present medal of the Purple Heart.

As described in Army Regulation 600-35 of Nov. 10 1941 the design consisted of a purple enameled heart within a alloy of copper quarter-inch border showing a relief profile of George Washington in Continental uniform. Surmounting the enameled shield is Washington's family coat of arms. The invert side features the same heart shape and the coat of arms without enamel; within the heart lies the inscription, "For Military Merit," with space beneath for the engraved name of the recipient.

At that time, the Navy Department saw no reason to authorize the Purple Heart for its officers and men maintaining that the award was "purely an Army decoration."

In Executive Order 9277 of Dec 3 1942 President Franklin D Roosevelt reach forthed the use of the award to the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard after Dec 7 1941 and established a uniform application of standards for the award in the Army and the Navy.

President Harry s Truman, in Executive Order 10409 of Nov. 12 1952 retroactively stretch outed Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard eligibility for the Purple Heart back to April 5 1917 to overlay World War I.

upon April 25, 1962, President John F Kennedy issued Executive Order 11016 which reach forthed eligibility to "any civilian national of the United States, who while serving below competent authority in any capacity with an armed force has been, or may hereafter, be wounded"

Today the Purple Heart is perhaps, the greatest in quantity unique of all United States military awards. granting relatively low in the order of priority on the Pyramid of Honor (it ranks below the tin star), it is one of the greatest in quantity widely recognized and respected medals. It cannot be earned just by dint of courage or by exceptional service or achievement. The Purple Heart signifies individual thing ... sacrifice.

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