Can a post-humous Purple Heart be given?

My dad received a commendation for a purple heart in Korea, but wouldn't go to receive it because of survivor guilt. Where can we see about obtaining evidence of the award, and maybe the medal? He is deceased but the grandkids would like it.

Can a post-humous Purple Heart be given?
Check out his DD 214 (Discharge papers). If he was awarded a Purple Heart citation, it will show up on there. If so, send a copy of the DD 214 to the Personnel Records Center of the branch of service your Dad was in. They should have no problems with providing the medal.





My thanks to your Dad (and all veterans) for their service to their country.
Reply:God bless you, your family and your dad for your service to our country. I am a Korean Veteran and I know people who didn't accept their medals because one or more of their buddies were killed in Korea. I was never wounded. I feel guilty. I know your dad's feelings.





But, by all means, that medal should be on display in a very prominent place in your home for all to see. The Purple Heart is accompanied by a commendation. That commendation should be displayed along with the medal so the viewer can know what your dad did to earn it.





Look up the Veterans of Foreign Wars in your yellow pages. You can call them but if you want to make an impression, go personally to their office or club room and tell them that I, Corporal Jack Ruddy, a Korean Veteran, US Army Artillery advised you to go get their help in getting your dad's metal. It's his...he earned it. They're all great guys (so are the Viet Nam veterans) who will bend over backwards to help you. They know what to do because they've done it before.





Take along a picture of your dad in his uniform (and later in life), his EXACT name, his military serial number, his birth date, etc. If their was something written in a newspaper about his wounding or other publicity, take it along. What was the name of his unit in Korea? When did he go in and get out of the service? These are all things that The VFW can use to help get that medal.





If you need more help, my email address is j.ruddy@sbcglobal.net. I'll help. I'm very resourceful and stubborn.





Jack.
Reply:I'm pretty sure it can be given. Contact the DOD, or the branch he served for to find out who is in charge of it. The DOD has a search engine that might help you find specifically who to contact. I think it's dod.gov - but, it should redirect you if not.
Reply:Those records would be on file in the government archives, and on his service record, it will show that he was awarded the purple heart. You can then petition the branch that he served in with this information and they should issue it no trouble, as long as it is in his service record. It will probably take a few months to clear up, but in the end, it will be worth it.





I thank you and your family for your service and offer my condolences for your loss.
Reply:you should be able to get it. I would try my senator or congressman and see if they can help. The web. also has a lot of VA information
Reply:I'm guessing there's about a 5% chance that if he was awarded the purple heart that it is in his records. You can get a copy of his DD214 from the national Archives. The reason only 5%.... well a lot of times folks in the Army don't do a good job of following up on paperwork.. If it was submitted to his Official Military Personnel Records Jacket, then there's a chance that it burned up in the Fire that destroyed a lot of Soldiers records back in the 80s in St. Louis. (I'm just guessing)... but start by checking out this website... it will tell you what all info you will need to request a copy of his records.
Reply:alot of times even if the soldier didn't physically recieve the award, it is still placed on their dd214, which since he has passed away if you can show proof of direct kinship you MIGHT be able to recieve a copy of that from the deparment of veterans affairs, if the award is listed on his dd214 it's just a matter of purchasing one from the multitude of sites or stores that sell military medals.