Purple Heart Medal

The Purple Heart (PH) was established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York, on 7 August 1782, during the Revolutionary War. It was reestablished by the President of the United States per War Department General Orders 3, 1932 and is currently awarded pursuant to Executive Order 11016, 25 April 1962; Executive Order 12464, 23 February 1984; Public Law 98-525, 19 October 1984 amended by Public Law 100–48, 1 June 1987; Public Law 103-160, 30 November 1993; Public Law 104-106, 10 February 1996; and Public Law 105-85, 18 November 1997. The PH is awarded in the name of the President of the United States and per 10 USC 1131, effective 19 May 1998, is limited to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under component authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded, was killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received under any of the following—

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

• 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.

• 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.

• As the result of an act of any such enemy of opposing Armed Forces.

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

• After 28 March 1973, as the 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 Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack.

• After 28 March 1973, as the result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.

• Servicemembers who are killed or wounded in action by friendly fire. In accordance with 10 USC 1129 for award of the PH, the Secretary of the Army will treat a member of the Armed Forces as a member who is killed or wounded in action as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States.

A Servicemember described in this subsection is a member who is killed or wounded in action by weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict, other than as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States, unless (in the case of a wound) the wound is the result of willful misconduct of the member.

This section applies to members of the Armed Forces who are killed or wounded on or after 7 December 1941. In the case of a member killed or wounded, as described in paragraph 2–8b above, on or after 7 December 1941 and before 30 November 1993, the SA will award the PH under provisions of paragraph 2–8 in each case which is known to the Secretary before such date or for which an application is made to the Secretary in such manner as the Secretary requires.

A former prisoner of war (POW) who was wounded before 25 April 1962, while held as a POW (or while being taken captive) will be treated in the same manner as a former POW who is wounded on or after that date while held as a POW (in accordance with section 521 of P.L. 104-106.

Pursuant to 10 USC 1129a, as amended by the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, Section 571, the award of the PH for Servicemembers killed or wounded in attacks by foreign terrorist organizations, the Secretary will treat a Servicemembers of the Armed Forces who is killed or wounded as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States as stated in 2-8b(6).

While clearly an individual decoration, the PH differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not "recommended" for the decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria. .

A PH is authorized for the first wound suffered under conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an Oak Leaf Cluster will be awarded to be worn on the medal or ribbon. Not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instant or from the same missile, force, explosion, or agent.

When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award.

Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:

• Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action

• Injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap

• Injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent

• Injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire

• Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions

• Mild traumatic brain injury or concussive severe enough to cause either loss of consciousness or restriction from full duty due to persistent signs, symptoms, or clinical finding, or impaired brain functions for a period greater than 48 hours from the time of the concussive incident.

• Perforated Eardrum (ruptured tympanic membrane)

Examples of injuries or wounds which clearly do not justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:

• Frostbite (excluding severe frostbite requiring hospitalization from 7 December 1941 to 22 August 1951).

• Trench foot or immersion foot.

• Heat stroke.

• Food poisoning not caused by enemy agents.

• Chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy.

• Battle fatigue.

• Disease not directly caused by enemy agents.

• Accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action.

• Self-inflicted wounds, except when in the heat of battle and not involving gross negligence.

• Post traumatic stress disorders.

• Airborne (for example, parachute/jump) injuries not caused by enemy action.

• Hearing loss and tinnitus (for example: ringing in the ears).

• Mild traumatic brain injury or concussions that do not either result in loss of consciousness or restriction from full duty for a period greater than 48 hours due to persistent signs, symptoms, or physical findings of impaired brain function.

• Abrasions and lacerations (unless of a severity to be incapacitating).

• Bruises (unless caused by direct impact of the enemy weapon and severe enough to require treatment by a medical officer).

• Soft tissue injuries (for example, ligament, tendon or muscle strains, sprains, and so forth).

• First degree burns.

The information below is for active duty service members and Veterans. 

 To apply for the Purple Heart Medal you will need the following:

1. Two eye witness statements on DA 2823 or Word document.  Needs to be dated and signed.

2. Situation/Casualty Report  (if you can get it)...if not, it is okay.

3. Medical documentation showing combat injury:

• need documentation showing you were evaluated after the blast (in theatre, preferably).

• include Pre & Post-deployment Health Assessment (PDHA).

• TBI clinic referrals, neuropsych evaluations, and any other medical documents that state you have a TBI or concussion.

• important to make sure that you can connect your injury with a combat event, even if you do not have a medic report from being evaluated in theatre.

4. Deployment Orders

5. CAB (optional if you were awarded one)

6. ERB or ORB

7. Personal Narrative Can be on a Microsoft Word doc or Sworn Statement form.  

Needs to include:

                1. Top of Document= Name, Rank, "Purple Heart Request"

                2. Complete narrative with dates, approx times, location, etc... of how and when                      the incident occurred.  State the following: what happened, how you felt (saw stars, blacked out, etc...), approx date you were evaluated by a medic/PA and what they did to help you (if you were not evaluated immediately, explain why.  For example:

 "I was in a COP and could not access medical care", "I did not know the signs/symptoms of a TBI, I thought I was okay, but my headaches wouldn't stop", etc..).  If you do not have documentation of the actual medical evaluation in theatre, then this is the place to explain when you sought medical care for your concussion.  It is okay if the medic did not formally diagnose your concussion and just gave you Motrin, it just needs to be explained here.

8. FOR ACTIVE DUTY ONLY:

Need (Personal Action Request) signed by CoC. 

PERSONNEL ACTION (army.mil)

CHAPTER 4 (navy.mil)

Send all documentation and personal contact information to:

• Currently serving soldiers of the Regular Army, Guard and Reserve should submit through their company chain-of-command.

• Veterans and retirees should send their documents to Human Resources Command as follows:

ARMY

Commander, USA HRC,

Attn: Awards and Decorations Branch (AHRC-PDP-A)

1600 Spearhead Division Ave.

Fort Knox, KY 40122

• Army: Military Awards Branch, (703) 325-8700;

NAVY

Navy Personnel may request reconsideration by contacting the :

Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (Code DNS-35),

2000 Navy Pentagon,

Washington, DC 20350-2000.

• Navy: Navy Personnel Command, Retired Records Section, (314) 592-1150;

MARINES

Personnel who were serving in Marine Corps UNITs at the time of the wound/injury are advised to forward this documentation to the Commander, MARCENT for consideration. This information should be mailed to the following address:

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command Attention:

Adjutant 7115 South Boundary Boulevard

MacDill Air Force Base, Florida 33621

• Marine Corps: Military Awards Branch, (703) 784-9340.

AIR FORCE

File AF Form 2220 to: 

Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center (HQ AFPC/DPP)

550 C St W

Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4721

• Air Force: Air Force Personnel Center, (800) 616-3775

• Air Force: Air Force Personnel Center, (800) 616-3775;

**allow 3-6 months for review.**

Veterans also can call 1-888-276-9472 or email hrc.tagd.awards@conus.army.mil for more general information.

Potential information sources:

1. COMMANDER, U.S. ARMY RESERVE PERSONNEL COMMAND, ATTN:  ARPC, 9700 PAGE AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63132-5000

2.  DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS & ADMINISTRATION CENTER, ATTN:  NCP-MA, 9700 PAGE AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63132-5200

3.  WASHINGTON NATIONAL RECORDS CENTER, 8601 ADELPHI ROAD, COLLEGE PARK, MD  20740-6001

4. NATIONAL ARCHIVES & RECORDS ADMINISTRATION (NARA), LIBRARY AND PRINTED ARCHIVES BRANCH, 8TH AND PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NORHTWEST, WASHINGTON, DC 20408

5. **NARA WORLD WIDE WEB HOMEPAGE - (http://www.nara.gov)  Search National Archives Database for records

Standard Form 180 to Request Medical/Incident Records

http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf  fill out this request form and mail it in.  Be sure to request ALL medical and non-medical documentation related to any blasts you were involved in downrange.  Hopefully, the archives will have records of the event.