Purple Heart, Korean War Ribbons and Medals -- US Army

Originally established by Commander-in-Chief George Washington on 07 AUG 1782, at Newburgh on the Hudson, New York, as an award for outstanding military merit, or the 'Badge of Merit'.
The award was in the form of an embroidered, heart-shaped badge of purple cloth and bestowed on only three non-commissioned officers. Though never officially abolished it was not again awarded for almost one hundred and fifty years.  

Upon its revival in 1932, as the Purple Heart, the new decoration was to be awarded in two categories:

1. "For being wounded in action in any war or campaign under conditions which entitle the wearing of a wound chevron."

2. "For those persons who perform any singularly meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service."

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order which provided that the Purple Heart would be made available to members of all the US Armed Services who were wounded in action. Since then the Purple Heart has become one of the most highly respected decorations of the US Armed Forces. The decoration holds a very unique position in that it can be earned in only one way, by being wounded. An attendant requirement is that the wound must have been received as a direct result of enemy