Question about the Purple Heart?

Is the


Purple Heart


for wounded ARMY members only? Or is it the standard medal for all injured personnel of the Armed Forces, meaning if you are injured in war at a front line unit and you are NOT an Army member(say the Marines) would you be eligible to recieve the Purple Heart?

Question about the Purple Heart?
Pre-WW2 Awards: The Purple Heart as we know it today was reestablished in 1932 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. The original criteria for award of the Purple Heart as published in the War Department Circular No. 6 of February 22, 1932 states that the medal be awarded to anyone serving in the Army who had received combat-related injuries or had received the AEF's Meritorious Service Citation Certificate during WWI, the latter criteria harkening back to the intent of George Washington's "Badge of Military Merit".





Although this awards was retroactive to any soldier wounded from the Civil War on, eligible recipients were required to submit a formal application to the War Department for approval before the issuance of the medal. In 1942 the Army estimated that approximately 186,000 living veterans were eligible to receive a retroactive Purple Heart. Approximately 78,000 retroactive Purple Hearts were awarded between 1932 and 1942.





While the award of the Purple Heart was not authorized by the Navy until 1942, sailors and Marines who had been wounded prior to 1932 were eligible to apply for the medal. While no numbers are available concerning the award to Navy and Marine personnel, approximately 12,000 sailors and Marines were wounded between the Civil War and the Nicaragua Campaign of 1932.
Reply:No, it is a US Military decoration. Its not restricted to the Army. And, its not awarded for injury. These are the circumstances for being awarded the Purple Heart:


. In any action against an enemy of the United States.


2. In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged.


3. While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.


4. As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces.


5. As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force


6. After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack.


7. After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.
Reply:Standard for all services for death or wounds due to enemy action. Smashing a humvee into a telephone pole ( as many have done) or catching a illness does not count.
Reply:The Purple Heart is awarded to all US Military members who are wounded as a result of enemy action during war time.


See http://www.va.gov/
Reply:In 1942 it was extended to the Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy. (Air Force was part of the Army). In 1952 president Truman extended it retroactive to the other serves back to WWI. It is the oldest military decoration. It can also be awarded to civilians serving under the military.





It is awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after 5 April 1917 with the U.S. military.





It doesnt matter if you are in the front lines or in the rear with the gear.
Reply:you can get a purple heart if you at a bar on a Saturday night and a terroist tosses in a granade and you get injured too...You don't have to be on the front line.....
Reply:i believe that it is for all the military not just the army.