Officials revise Purple Heart eligibility criteria

By / Published October 09, 2008

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Purple Heart. Illustrated by Virginia Reyes of the Air Force News Agency. This image is 4x8 inches @ 200 ppi. The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established by Gen. George Washington by order from his headquarters at Newburgh, N. Y., Aug. 7, 1782. Records indicate that the Purple Heart was awarded only three times during the Revolutionary War and was not awarded again until it was revived on Washington's 200th birthday, Feb. 22, 1932. Use of the Purple Heart for meritorious service was discontinued on Dec. 3, 1942 when the Legion of Merit was created.

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Department of Defense officials announced Oct. 6 that eligibility criteria for the Purple Heart have been expanded to permit prisoners of war who died in captivity to receive the award.

The revised department policy presumes, for service members who die in captivity as a qualifying prisoner of war, that their death was the "result of enemy action," or the result of wounds incurred "in action with the enemy" during capture, or as a result of wounds incurred as a "result of enemy action" during capture, unless compelling evidence is presented to the contrary.

The revised policy allows retroactive award of the Purple Heart to qualifying prisoners of war since Dec. 7, 1941. A posthumous award will be made to the deceased service member's representative, as designated by the secretary of the military department concerned, upon application to that military department.

Each military department will publish application procedures and ensure they are accessible by the general public. Family members with questions may contact the services:

-- Air Force: Air Force Personnel Center, (800) 616-3775;
-- Army: Military Awards Branch, (703) 325-8700;
-- Navy: Navy Personnel Command, Retired Records Section, (314) 592-1150;
-- Marine Corps: Military Awards Branch, (703) 784-9340.