How to Receive a Coast Guard Purple Heart
George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit, a medal in the name of the president, to honor merit in military service. Use of the award ended after the Revolution but was reinstated in the early 20th century. The medal was then renamed the Purple Heart. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt permanently extended the honor of the Purple Heart to deserving members of the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. According to the Department of Defense, Purple Heart recipients receive certain privileges, including a higher priority for Veteran Affairs services. There are basic requirements for receiving this medal.
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Instructions
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Defend the nation against enemy attack. The Purple Heart is awarded to men and women acting under a branch of the armed forces who have been wounded, fatally wounded or killed while defending the country from enemies. This includes injuries and deaths due to terrorist attacks and hostile acts against the nation.
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Obtain wounds that are a result of enemy action. Injuries that are due to military work, such as frostbite, heatstroke and battle fatigue, are not included. Post-traumatic stress disorders and harmful exposure to chemical and nuclear agents that are not released by opposing forces do not qualify for the award.
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Receive an injury due to enemy weapons and attack. Wounds or deaths that are caused by projectiles, mines and nuclear, biological or chemical agents released by the enemy automatically qualify for the Purple Heart. Also included are head injuries due to explosions as well as injury due to vehicle and aircraft collisions caused by enemy action.
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Questionable injuries and deaths are reviewed. Victims of friendly fire are awarded the Purple Heart if the action that caused the harm was originally intended as an act against the enemy in order to damage their troops or supplies.
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Dismissal of injuries or deaths. Some wounds and deaths are automatically disqualified for the Purple Heart award. These include injuries or deaths due to acts of negligence and self-inflicted wounds.
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Tips & Warnings
The Purple Heart is awarded only for the first wound received because of enemy action. Each additional wound may qualify for a gold and silver star.
Purple Heart recipients generally have reduced or no co-pay fees for medical care.
Purple heart medals for those who have died in service are given to the next of kin.
Prisoners of war may also qualify for the Purple Heart.
Occasionally, someone deserving of a Purple Heart may go overlooked. An appeal can be made in order to claim the medal.
