The Military Order of the Purple Heart was the first military decoration in the world to be awarded to enlisted men and non-commissioned officers on a truly democratic basis, solely for deeds of valor.
It was established by Gen. George Washington, Aug. 7, 1782, and was reestablished by President Hoover, February 1932, by an order signed by General Douglas MacArthur, then chief of staff of the U. S. Army.
Entry establishing the Purple Heart, made by Washington in his Orderly Book at his headquarters at Newburgh, N.Y., is one of the great documents of democracy. It reads, in part: 'The general, ever desirous to cherish a virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward.'
Recipients had only to announce 'Wearer of the Purple Heart' to 'be suffered to pass all guards and sentinels which officers are permitted to do.'
Names of men decorated with this Badge of Military Merit were to be written in 'The Book of Merit,' but this book has never been found. Probably it was destroyed when the British burned the city of Washington in the War of 1812.
One of the original Purple Hearts, the only one known to have survived to the present day, was found on the faded and torn uniform of an unknown soldier in a barn in Deerfield, N.H. It is now in the possession of the Society of the Cincinnati of the state of New Hampshire.
Names of but three men who received Washington's Purple Heart are known. All happened to be from Connecticut.
Sgt. Daniel Bissel, of Capt. David Humphrey's Company of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Line, penetrated the British lines, enlisted in the British Army, collected information for General Washington and almost lost his life several times.
Sgt. Elijah Churchill, of the 2nd Continental Dragoons, was awarded a Purple Heart for his part in a raid on Long Island, N.Y. He and sixteen men from a party which had rowed across the Sound at night surprised, captured and destroyed the British Fort of St. George, took fifty prisoners, and burned a supply schooner.
Sgt. William Brown, of the 5th Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Line, at the Battle of Yorktown, 'conducted a forlorn hope with great bravery, propriety, and deliberate firmness,' and 'his general character appears unexceptionable.'
George Washington's democratic inspiration of rewarding soldiers for bravery was soon forgotten after the Revolution, and for many years the United States did as other nations and gave citations and decorations only to ranking officers.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart was reestablished on the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth 'out of respect to his memory and military achievements.' Officers also are now eligible for this decoration.
Modern insignia is a small metal heart-shaped pendant bearing a profile of Washington on the obverse and the name of the recipient and the inscription 'For Military Merit' on the reverse.
The Purple Heart was given to more than 70,000 veterans of World War I who had received the Meritorious Service Citation from General Pershing or who had been wounded in action under circumstances which would entitle a wound chevron.
Many men, wounded during the Japanese Attack on the Hawaiian Islands, Dec. 7, 1941, have also been given this decoration.
The national organization of the Order of the Purple Heart maintains headquarters at Washington, D. C. It has been pushing an important Americanism-Legislative-Service Program directed at Fifth Column activities.
Major Harry B. Weinburgh was elected National Commander at the 9th annual convention of the Order, held at Atlanta, Ga., August 1941.
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