Purple Heart Created: Washington Honors the Wounded
George Washington issued an order on August 7, 1782, creating the Badge of Military Merit, a purple heart-shaped cloth badge designed to recognize soldiers who performed "any singularly meritorious action." Only three soldiers received the badge during the Revolutionary War. The award was forgotten for 150 years until General Douglas MacArthur revived it in 1932, the bicentennial of Washington's birth, transforming it into the Purple Heart medal awarded to service members wounded or killed in combat. MacArthur had a personal interest: he had been wounded in World War I. The Purple Heart is unique among military decorations because it requires no nomination or approval. Any service member who sheds blood in combat automatically qualifies.
August 7, 1782
244 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on August 7
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