Question About Being Awarded Purple Heart

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question About Being Awarded Purple Heart

Posted: 4/29/2001 9:19:08 AM EDT

Got a question for some of you veterns out there...My deceased father-in-law was wounded in the battle of the bulge (shrapnel to the knee/leg). My wife said that he was never awarded the purple heart. I was under the impression that a wound in combat was the only qualification for a purple heart. Any light you all might be able to shed on this would be appreciated.

Posted: 4/29/2001 9:42:07 AM EDT

[#1]

The Purple Heart

Service: All Services (originally the Army only)

Instituted: 1932

Criteria: Awarded to any member of the US Armed Forces killed or wounded in an armed conflict.
------------------------------------------------

Dave Dee
Moderator of Reloading Forum
A great place to get answers to your reloading questions.

Posted: 4/29/2001 4:24:41 PM EDT

[#2]

There are many documented cases of soldiers refusing to have their wounds, which they consider to be minor, awarded a ribbon, after seeing what their fellow soldiers have endured. Also, it is possible that there was no officer or NCO around to document the injury.

The Bulge was an increadibly chaotic and hectic battle, and most barely survived, so paperwork was not as big a concern to anyone at the time.

I have respect for ALL who served, both abroad and at home.

-Troy

Posted: 4/29/2001 4:25:28 PM EDT

[#3]

You may want to contact the Department of Defense. I believe that there are forms that you can use to aquire medals that were not awarded if you are a descendant which your wife is.

If I can round up a link for you I will post it on here.

[sniper]
The Sniper

Posted: 4/29/2001 4:34:16 PM EDT

[#4]

Go see your county veterans service officer and also contact the veterans of foreign wars (vfw) service officer...they will help you get together paperwork and documentation needed..Yes any wounds suffered as a direct result of combat entiltles a US service memember to a purple heart..All medals can be awarded after the fact even years later

Posted: 4/29/2001 4:54:17 PM EDT

[#5]

Hopefully a copy of his discharge exists. you will need that to get started. Army records in St. Louis had a fire in 1973. Aprox. 80% of WW11 records were a total loss. I went through this trying to help my dad replace his medals. I contacted my U.S. Rep. The best I recieved was a certificate stating dates served. Expect long delays in the process. Good luck.

Posted: 4/29/2001 5:22:38 PM EDT

[#6]

Thanks everyone for the help/advice. My wife thinks that her father probably DID refuse an award, but, she said that he did not like to talk about the war so who knows.

Thanks again!

Posted: 4/29/2001 7:57:28 PM EDT

[#7]

check out [url]http://www.purpleheart.org/Awd_of_PH.htm[/url]

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question About Being Awarded Purple Heart

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