Purple Heart Medal

(All Services)

Awarded for wounds or death as result of an act of any opposing armed force, as a result of an international terrorist attack or as a result of military operations while serving as part of a peacekeeping force.

The oldest of our military awards, the predecessor for the Purple Heart was George Washington's "Badge of Military Merit" (1782).  Washington's award was resurrected in 1932 as the Purple Heart and is awarded to any person wounded in action while serving in any of our Armed Forces.  It is also presented posthumously to the next of kin of personnel killed in action or who die of wounds sustained in action.