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A purple heart-shaped medal bearing a profile of George Washington.
Also known as: Purple heart medal, Heart shaped medal
A heart in purple enamel with Washington's profile and the Washington family coat of arms above. Unusual among decorations in being awarded by entitlement rather than recommendation: anyone wounded or killed by enemy action qualifies, which makes it a record of what happened rather than a judgement of conduct.
A heart-shaped medal in purple enamel within a gold border, bearing a profile bust of George Washington, with the Washington coat of arms between sprays of leaves above.
United States · Contexts: History
Awarded to members of the United States armed forces wounded or killed as a result of enemy action, on the basis of entitlement rather than of recommendation and citation.
This distinguishes it from gallantry decorations in kind, not merely in level. It records a fact about what happened rather than an assessment of conduct.
United States
Descends from the Badge of Military Merit instituted by Washington in 1782 — a purple cloth heart — and the modern decoration was established in 1932 on the bicentenary of his birth.
United States · 1782 antecedent; instituted 1932
A heart-shaped medal in deep purple with a gold rim, bearing a raised side-on portrait head, with a small shield and leaf sprays above the heart.
Both are United States military decorations with published designs and criteria.