The Purple Heart medal, steeped in American military tradition and bearing the profile of George Washington, has a storied past that connects generations of warriors who have shed blood or sacrificed their lives in service to their country.
The stockpile of Purple Hearts, which had been produced in anticipation of high casualties during the planned invasion of Japan in World War II.
The Truman Library Institute approximated that 495,000 medals remained following the war. These medals were subsequently awarded to service members and their families throughout the Korean War, Vietnam War, and beyond.
During the 1990s, the Army’s Institute of Heraldry noted a decrease in the vast collection of medals. The Defense Logistics Agency, in charge of acquiring these awards, did not have precise information on when this decline occurred.
In 2022, the DLA enlisted the services of Steven Kennedy and his company, Kennedy Inc., to produce updated versions of the medals that adhere to the specifications from the 1930s.
Steven Kennedy, whose father and uncle served in WWII and another uncle was killed in the Vietnam era, leads the company.
For him and his team, the production of around 15,000 medals over the last three decades has been a labor of reverence and emotional significance.
The intricate production process adheres to the exact specifications established in 1932, when Gen. Douglas MacArthur revived the award.
The medal is composed of a brass-alloy base displaying the profile of Washington, topped with a purple insert, and adorned with a purple and white striped ribbon.
The purple color symbolizes bravery. Inscribed on the reverse side is the phrase “For Military Merit.”
The unaltered continuity of the design reflects its legacy value—unchanged insignia becomes a common denominator uniting soldiers past, present, and future.
The history of the Purple Heart traces back to George Washington, who first instituted the “Badge of Military Merit” in 1782 to boost morale among the troops.
The significance of the award faded into obscurity until World War I, and it was not linked to wounds until General MacArthur revitalized interest in it.
In General Order No. 3 issued on February 22, 1932, MacArthur expressed his intention to modernize the medal’s specifications to align with Washington’s original vision.
Charles Mugno, director of the Institute of Army Heraldry, emphasizes how World War II drastically transformed the awards system, solidifying the Purple Heart’s association with physical wounds or death in combat.
Relevant articles:
– For Decades, Recipients Were Honored with Purple Hearts Made During WWII. This Company Now Forges New Medals., Military.com
– Why are World War II-Era Purple Hearts Still Awarded?, hnn.us
– The Purple Heart, Military.com