How to Replace a Purple Heart Medal Through the Military
The honor of the Purple Heart was created by George Washington in 1782 when he declared that any American servicemen who performed exceptional service should be rewarded. Any member of the U.S. armed forces can receive a Purple Heart if wounded by the enemy in combat, by friendly fire in combat or in a prisoner of war situation. The honor of receiving a Purple Heart may never fade from a soldier's life, but as with any belonging, hearts get lost with the passage of time. The military can arrange for a replacement medal for qualified service men and women.
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Instructions
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Log on to the National Archives website.
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Click on the "eVetRecs" link, located toward the bottom right of the page. On the new page, click the "Request Military Records" button at the bottom of the page.
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Enter all required information into the system, including the soldier's full name, service number, Social Security number, branch and date of service, date and place of birth.
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Enter as much recommended information as possible. When asked to choose a category for your request, select "military awards/decorations."
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Print your eVetRecs form, sign and date it to designate that you are requesting a replacement Purple Heart.
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Mail the information for Army, Air Force, Army Air Corps and Army Air Force service to:
National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132 -
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Mail the information for Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard service to:
Navy Personnel Command
Liaison Office Room 5409
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132
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Tips & Warnings
In general, there is no charge to get a replacement medal from the military. Response time to letters can vary depending on the branch of the military to which you have written.
References
- Photo Credit soldier at former berlin wall image by robert paul van beets from Fotolia.com
