WW1 Purple Heart

Bluehawk · 1 October 2009, 01:22 PM

In creating biographical sketches for WW1 aviators who were wounded or died in combat, I have been told that the Purple Heart medal approved in the 1930s was to be awarded retroactively to 1917.

One step in doing the Remembrances on AF Together we Served is to show an airman's rack, so I'd like to include the Purple Heart if that would be authorized.

Is it?

Jim · 1 October 2009, 02:58 PM

I don't know, but if I were doing such a rack I would prefer to have it look authentic to the era - what the man would have worn on the last day of the war rather than having added medals.

Bluehawk · 1 October 2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim

I don't know, but if I were doing such a rack I would prefer to have it look authentic to the era - what the man would have worn on the last day of the war rather than having added medals.

That's what I've done thusfar.

Nacho · 1 October 2009, 05:20 PM

The Purple Heart is an old award. It was established in 1782 by George Washinton. I remember seeing a picture of the old Purple Heart and it didn't look like nothing of what it looks like today. Some were given during the revolutionary way, but none during WW1. It was proposed though to be brought back after WW1.

Bluehawk · 1 October 2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nacho

The Purple Heart is an old award. It was established in 1782 by George Washinton. I remember seeing a picture of the old Purple Heart and it didn't look like nothing of what it looks like today. Some were given during the revolutionary way, but none during WW1. It was proposed though to be brought back after WW1.

If not mistaken, I believe General MacArthur, who was heavily involved in the 1930s redesign of the medal, later received one of the first for his wounds in WW1.