Condition: Excellent
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Product Description: An excellent example of the iconic U.S. Purple Heart awarded for wounds sustained in combat, featuring the traditional heart-shaped bronze medallion with bust of General George Washington in profile, set against a rich purple enamel field and surmounted by the shield and laurel leaf border.
This piece retains its original World War II-era slot brooch, indicating wartime manufacture, and remains in notably fine condition with only minor wear consistent with careful preservation. The medal is unnamed, as was standard for many issued during the Second World War, particularly for those not engraved at the recipient’s request or issued posthumously without inscription.
The Purple Heart—first established by General Washington in 1782 and revived in 1932—has come to represent one of the most solemn and respected military honors in the United States. This pristine example is both a poignant symbol of sacrifice and a highly collectible piece of mid-20th-century American military history.
Historical Description: The Purple Heart is the United States’ oldest military decoration still awarded, honoring service members who are wounded or killed in action. Its origins trace back to the Revolutionary War, when General George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit in 1782—a heart-shaped purple cloth patch awarded for “singularly meritorious action.” Only three are known to have been bestowed, and the honor fell into disuse after the war.
The modern Purple Heart was revived on February 22, 1932, the bicentennial of Washington’s birth. Its design—a purple heart framed in gold bearing Washington’s profile—was created by the U.S. Army’s heraldic artist Elizabeth Will. Initially awarded for meritorious service, the decoration evolved into its present purpose: recognizing those injured or killed in combat. During World War II, criteria were formalized to include wounds sustained in action against enemy forces, and hundreds of thousands were awarded as American forces fought across multiple theaters.
Today, the Purple Heart is awarded across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Its criteria include injuries from enemy fire, terrorism, and in certain cases, friendly fire. The decoration holds profound symbolic weight, representing sacrifice, personal cost, and the human realities of military service. It remains one of the most widely recognized and deeply respected American military honors, a direct link between the earliest traditions of the republic and the modern service member.
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