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When we speak about America’s Purple Heart recipients, the phrase “Some gave all. All gave some,” is often used. Few understand the true meaning of these six simple words like our nation’s Purple Heart recipients.
From the fields of Lexington and Concord to the trenches of Europe, and the jungles of Vietnam to the sands of the Middle East, courageous Americans have answered the call of their country to serve a cause greater than themselves for nearly 250 years. For their physical scars and wounds, these great Americans have received a singular recognition, first conceived by the father of our nation, George Washington in 1782.
Over 1.8 million Americans have been awarded the Purple Heart, which traces its roots to the Badge of Military Merit. Behind each Purple Heart is a unique American story of valor. Unfortunately, there is no publicly available database of all those who have been wounded or killed in action while protecting the freedoms we cherish. The 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center further complicated accurate accounting for those who earned this recognition that no one wants but is granted as a tribute from a grateful nation.
Together, we can change that. The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is ramping up efforts to enroll our nation’s Purple Heart Heroes into the Roll of Honor, a publicly accessible, online catalogue of our heroes managed by the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New York.
The idea behind the Roll of Honor is simple: Record as many stories of valor as possible from those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom and their families to inspire future generations of Americans to greatness.
Inclusion in the Roll of Honor is open to all Purple Heart recipients, regardless of branch or time of service. Family members can also create profiles for their loved ones. To be enrolled, one simply completes the registration form, including providing the relevant award documentation (DD-214 or DD-215, Purple Heart Certificate, General or Permanent Orders listing the Award, or a WD-AGO 53-550). Applicants to the roll are also encouraged to provide a photo to be associated with their profile.
Since its creation, more than 200,000 entries have been added to the Roll of Honor. But we have a long way to go. As a publicly available catalogue of Purple Heart recipients and their stories, the Roll of Honor helps all of us draw inspiration from our Purple Heart recipients. Their stories offer us an opportunity to unite behind the courage and fortitude that make our nation, and its armed forces, the best in the world.
The Purple Heart is worn humbly and proudly by so many, not because it is a symbol of their own sacrifice but a testament to those who did not make it home. It reminds us that freedom isn’t free.
Our Purple Heart recipients are deserving of our gratitude and our commitment to honor their service and sacrifice. By working together, we can ensure those who have sacrificed for our freedom receive the recognition they deserve.
For more information about the Roll of Honor or the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, log on to www.PurpleHeartMission.org.
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I am a Purple Heart Veteran. Thank you for this site and what you do for us, I will give my story.
Continue the effort to remind everyone the significance of the award of the Purple Heart. Unfortunately, I was awarded 3 PH’s during my service in Vietnam.
It is a great thing to be able to store up the behind-the-scenes of “How I got My Purple Heart.” The situation and the thoughts running inside your head all play a part in maintaining a life afterwards. Arty drove into a long and deep foxhole next to our living quarters early one morning near the DMZ. The NVA had, for months, been dropping arty and mortars almost daily into the area filled with UH-34 helicopters. I had been asked to stand down this day because of the number of hours I had collected this month. Five minutes to 8 in the morning and the first shell landed. I was extracted some 4 hours later, and the shelling continued into the evening hours when the remainder of the squadron was evacuated around 6 pm. Shells penetrated the ground, yet no major injuries at that time. Fires broke out and pallets caused the buildings to burn to the ground. Many parts of burning material came down on the entrances and exits of those holes. Ammo cooked off near the bunker’s entrance and found their way into the holes. Out of breathing air and force outside the holes, we were met with burning wood and hot metal. Skin gave way quickly to burns and blisters. 44 men were wounded out of the squadron’s approx. 200 enlisted. About ten of us were moved to floating aid ships off shore. Later to hospital ships in Da Nang harbor. Thirty days later I hitched a ride back to the squadron’s new home at Marble Mountain. I flew again that night. Guess where? Yep! Back to where I got hit a month earlier. I thank God now how I survived and give thanks to all who were in my recovery. It is good to have someone to collect these memories for others to try to understand what a young kid is thinking and having to go through with battle all about them. Semper Fi battle buddies! All branches gave much! All wars and conflicts!
I was wounded by a sniper on August 1st, 3:30 P.M. in the mudflats of Danang, Viet Nam. I was medevaced to a field hospital where I woke up the next morning with a purple heart pinned to my sheet. A few days later I was transported to Clark AFB in the Philippines where I underwent my surgery to recontruct my right hip. There I was awarded the purple heart by General William Wesmoreland. After my surgeries I was then transported to Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, Colorado for convalesence and to await my orders to return to active duty. While there, I was awarded my third purple heart by the commandingI Officer of the local Marine Corps Reserve unit. I was later assigned to Camp Pendleton to serve out my remaining six months in the United States Marine Corps.
I’m a Purple Heart recipient from the Viet-Nam War. Got medivaced out of a hot Lz in the Battle of Dakto in 1967 We almost got overrun by the Nva. Hundreds lost their lives hundreds more got wounded we had to wait days to get our dead out because of too much firepower from the snipers we were surrounded it was horrific. Just now you are starting to think about putting us on some kind of roll of honor Fifty something years to late. Shameful.
you with the herd? I was and agree totally. Now live in Mexico and am 100% rated disability
Why did a “Purple Heart” Veteran self-deport to Asia and NO ONE Helped him???????