thedrifter
07-16-07, 08:05 AM
The Lore of the Corps
Purple Heart celebrates two major anniversaries
By Fred L. Borch and Robert F. Dorr - Special to the Times
Posted : July 03, 2007
Starting as a simple heart-shaped piece of purple cloth, the Purple Heart has since been awarded to thousands of Marines who suffered severe combat injuries.
The Purple Heart celebrated two significant anniversaries this year. On Feb. 22, 1932 — 75 years ago — Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then the Army’s chief of staff, revived the Purple Heart. It had not been awarded since the Revolutionary War.
Gen. George Washington’s original award, called the Badge of Military Merit, was created Aug. 7, 1782 — 225 years ago — to reward “unusual gallantry,” “extraordinary fidelity” and “essential service” of soldiers in the Continental Army.
Only three soldiers — Sgts. William Brown, Elijah Churchill and Daniel Bissell — received Washington’s badge.
It was made of cloth, not medal, and was worn over the left breast.
Brown and Churchill received their awards for combat gallantry. Bissell received his for heroism as a spy who pretended to desert American forces, and then enlisted in the British army, obtaining valuable information.
After the revolution, the Badge of Military Merit was forgotten for almost 150 years. No comparable award existed during the 19th century or early 20th century.
When MacArthur revived the award and renamed it the Purple Heart, he intended the decoration to recognize meritorious service for soldiers. To MacArthur, that included being wounded as a result of enemy action.
The Purple Heart was first awarded to Marines, who were wounded while fighting alongside soldiers in France during World War I, after a regulation stated that any individual who served with the Army qualified for the award.
The same regulation determined that not just any wound was sufficient, even if received in combat. Rather, the wound must “necessitate treatment by a medical officer.”
Because the Marine Corps suffered about 11,000 casualties during eight months of almost continuous combat, many leathernecks were eligible for Purple Hearts.
Precisely how many were eventually awarded is not known, but World War I Marine Purple Hearts are highly prized by collectors today, especially those awarded for being wounded in the famous battle at Belleau Wood.
Although Marines wore the Purple Heart on their uniforms, only the Army awarded the medal until World War II.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order granting the Navy independent authority to award the Purple Heart to sailors and Marines who had been killed or wounded in action during and after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Since then, thousands of Marines have been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in a variety of locations.
Fred L. Borch retired from the Army. He can be reached at borchfj@aol.com. Robert F. Dorr is an Air Force veteran. He can be reached at robert.f.dorr@cox.net.
Ellie
Purple Heart celebrates two major anniversaries
By Fred L. Borch and Robert F. Dorr - Special to the Times
Posted : July 03, 2007
Starting as a simple heart-shaped piece of purple cloth, the Purple Heart has since been awarded to thousands of Marines who suffered severe combat injuries.
The Purple Heart celebrated two significant anniversaries this year. On Feb. 22, 1932 — 75 years ago — Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then the Army’s chief of staff, revived the Purple Heart. It had not been awarded since the Revolutionary War.
Gen. George Washington’s original award, called the Badge of Military Merit, was created Aug. 7, 1782 — 225 years ago — to reward “unusual gallantry,” “extraordinary fidelity” and “essential service” of soldiers in the Continental Army.
Only three soldiers — Sgts. William Brown, Elijah Churchill and Daniel Bissell — received Washington’s badge.
It was made of cloth, not medal, and was worn over the left breast.
Brown and Churchill received their awards for combat gallantry. Bissell received his for heroism as a spy who pretended to desert American forces, and then enlisted in the British army, obtaining valuable information.
After the revolution, the Badge of Military Merit was forgotten for almost 150 years. No comparable award existed during the 19th century or early 20th century.
When MacArthur revived the award and renamed it the Purple Heart, he intended the decoration to recognize meritorious service for soldiers. To MacArthur, that included being wounded as a result of enemy action.
The Purple Heart was first awarded to Marines, who were wounded while fighting alongside soldiers in France during World War I, after a regulation stated that any individual who served with the Army qualified for the award.
The same regulation determined that not just any wound was sufficient, even if received in combat. Rather, the wound must “necessitate treatment by a medical officer.”
Because the Marine Corps suffered about 11,000 casualties during eight months of almost continuous combat, many leathernecks were eligible for Purple Hearts.
Precisely how many were eventually awarded is not known, but World War I Marine Purple Hearts are highly prized by collectors today, especially those awarded for being wounded in the famous battle at Belleau Wood.
Although Marines wore the Purple Heart on their uniforms, only the Army awarded the medal until World War II.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order granting the Navy independent authority to award the Purple Heart to sailors and Marines who had been killed or wounded in action during and after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Since then, thousands of Marines have been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in a variety of locations.
Fred L. Borch retired from the Army. He can be reached at borchfj@aol.com. Robert F. Dorr is an Air Force veteran. He can be reached at robert.f.dorr@cox.net.
Ellie