Purple Heart

Purple Heart
U.S. Armed Forces.
a medal awarded for wounds received in action against an enemy or as a direct result of an act of the enemy.
[1930-35, Amer.]

* * *

▪ United States military decoration
      the first U.S. military decoration, instituted by General George Washington (Washington, George) in 1782 and awarded for bravery in action. The records show that only three men received it during the American Revolutionary War, all of them noncommissioned officers. Two of these coveted badges still exist. The original medal, sewn onto the coat, was simply a purple heart-shaped piece of cloth edged with silver braid. Although this was the medal of honour of the Revolution, it seems to have been forgotten for about 150 years. The 200th anniversary of Washington's birth marked the revival of the award (Feb. 22, 1932).

      The current purpose of the medal is as an award for those wounded or killed (awarded posthumously) in the service of their country. An Oak Leaf Cluster is granted to a member of the U.S. Army or Air Force who has been previously wounded and who already has a Purple Heart, and a Gold Star is awarded to a member of the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard for the same purpose.

      Perhaps one of the most beautifully designed of all U.S. decorations, the medal is a purple heart-shaped badge with bronze edges that depicts a profile relief bust of Washington in the uniform of a general in the Continental Army. The reverse side bears the inscription “For Military Merit” with the recipient's name below.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Purple Heart — Purple Hearts N COUNT The Purple Heart is a medal that is given to members of the US Armed Forces who have been wounded during battle …   English dictionary

  • Purple heart — Purple heart, s. Nutzhölzer, Bd. 6, S. 698 …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • Purple Heart — n a ↑medal given to US soldiers who have been wounded …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Purple Heart — ☆ Purple Heart n. a U.S. military decoration awarded to members of the armed forces wounded or killed in action by or against an enemy: established in 1782 and re established in 1932 …   English World dictionary

  • Purple Heart — For other uses, see Purple Heart (disambiguation). Purple Heart Purple Heart …   Wikipedia

  • Purple Heart — La médaille Purple Heart La Purple Heart (de l anglais : cœur pourpre) est une médaille militaire américaine, décernée en nom du Président des États …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Purple Heart — Das Purple Heart (dt. „Purpurherz“) ist die einzige Verwundetenauszeichnung der Streitkräfte der Vereinigten Staaten und gleichzeitig der weltweit älteste heute noch verwendete militärische Orden. Es wird an Soldaten verliehen, die im Kampf durch …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Purple Heart — noun a United States military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces who is wounded in action (Freq. 1) • Syn: ↑Order of the Purple Heart • Hypernyms: ↑decoration, ↑laurel wreath, ↑medal, ↑medallion, ↑palm …   Useful english dictionary

  • purple heart — noun a long acting barbiturate used as a sedative • Syn: ↑sodium thiopental, ↑phenobarbital, ↑phenobarbitone, ↑Luminal • Hypernyms: ↑barbiturate * * * noun, pl ⋯ Hearts [count] : a U.S. military award that is given to a soldier …   Useful english dictionary

  • purple heart — noun 1》 (Purple Heart) (in the US) a decoration for those wounded or killed in action. 2》 the hard, dark purplish brown wood of a large American rainforest tree (genus Peltogyne) …   English new terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”