Tales of The Purple Heart Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

This is true, even though the Purple Heart was predated by a medal called the Fidelity Medallion. The Fidelity Medallion was created by an act of the Continental Congress and was only given out to three soldiers in 1780; they had participated in the capture of Major John André, the British soldier who had helped arrange for the defection of Benedict Arnold.

Also called the André Capture Medal, it was never given out again, and for that reason it is considered to be a commemorative, or celebratory medal, rather than a military decoration that is given as an award for outstanding service.

The purpose of the USO is to serve members of the military and support their families during their time of service to the United States.

Answer: Badge of Military Merit

One way to boost the morale of an army that is war-weary is to present fighters with a medal, and that was the original intent of the Badge of Military Merit. Issued by general orders to the Continental Army in 1782, it was made of purple cloth with the word "merit" embroidered on the front. The stated purpose of the award was for "not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way".

Answer: George Washington

It was George Washington, of course! You may recall that his image is on the Purple Heart award that exists today.

By 1782 the colonial war effort was in trouble, and Washington knew it. There was talk of rebellion among the troops, and not enough money to feed or pay them. During the time of the Revolutionary War it was fairly common to commemorate important events and people with medals. Washington himself was given a medal by the Continental Congress to commemorate the Siege of Boston. I'm sure that he knew and understood that such a medal would be appreciated among his men.

As to how many badges were given out, records do not agree. It appears that local records indicate that there were more than the three badges commonly listed that were awarded, and that seems likely, considering what the Continental Army was trying to accomplish and the herculean effort that it took to do so.

Answer: True

Medals had previously been given out in European wars, however most of the time the people who received medals were officers who were credited with winning battles, rather than the common people who fought them. The attitude in the general order that became the United States, however, was that the "road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all". And that is still the attitude about the award today! Anyone who meets the criteria can earn it.

Answer: Sergeant Daniel Bissell

On May 3, 1783, Brown, of the 5th Connecticut Regiment was given the award. Although there is no exact record of why, it is believed that at Yorktown he took part in the assault on Redoubt No. 10. On the same day Churchill, of the 2nd Regiment Light Dragoons, received the award for his actions at Fort St. George, Tarrytown, and Fort Slongo, all located in New York.

Sergeant Daniel Bissell of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment received his award on June 10, 1783. He had worked as a spy, joining the British Army for a number of months, and passing along information to the Continental Army. It is said that he inspired the design of the award, when he was dancing with his wife and stepped on her purple dress. He took a piece of the torn cloth and fashioned it into a heart, asking her to keep it close.

Although there is disagreement in records that were kept at the time as to how many people received the award, it appears that officially these were the only three recipients of the award at its inception. They were the only three people who received it from General Washington himself.

There were no Purple Hearts issued during the American Civil War; the incorrect choices all fought during that era of American History.

Answer: World War I

The award that became known as the Purple Heart was never eliminated, but for some reason it was never used after the Revolutionary War. In 1927 the Army Chief of Staff, Charles Pelot Summerall, asked that a bill be presented to Congress to "revive the Badge of Military Merit". Early in 1931, as work on the project continued, the Badge of Military Merit became known as the Purple Heart. Soldiers who had received the Meritorious Service Citation Certificate, Army Wound Ribbon, or were authorized to wear Wound Chevrons before April 5, 1917, the day before the United States entered WWI, could apply for the award.

Answer: John F. Kennedy

During World War II Kennedy served in the Navy and was the commander of a patrol torpedo boat - the famous PT-109 incident. His back was badly injured after a collision with a Japanese destroyer, but he swam for three miles with the strap of the victim's life jacket in his mouth, pulling along a badly burned crewmate to safety.

After the incident he also received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

Answer: False

A person may receive as many Purple Heart medals as times he/she is injured. Since the Vietnam War, the most that have been received is ten. Charles Barger received ten during his service in World War I, William G."Bill" White earned nine during World War II and one during the Korean War, and Curry T. Haynes received ten during the Vietnam War. We Americans owe these people, and all those who served our country, a debt of gratitude.

Answer: General Douglas MacArthur

Gen. MacArthur was awarded the new medal on February 22, 1922, by President Hoover for his service during World War I. He received two medals for two different mustard gas attacks while assaulting German trenches.

MacArthur had been in a position to help resurrect the use of the medal when he became the Army Chief of Staff in 1930. Plans by his predecessor were already underway to redesign and reinstate the use of a new medal by the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth.

First Lieutenant Cordelia Cook, a nurse, was the first woman to be awarded with a Purple Heart, Major Audie Murphy was awarded three Purple Hearts and a Medal of Honor, and General Matthew Ridgway received one Purple Heart.

Answer: Injury or death due to terrorism

The qualifications for the award that were published in 1932 said that members of the Armed Services who were wounded or killed in action against any enemy of the United States were eligible for the award, and gave specific examples regarding who was considered an enemy. Since then the qualifications have been redefined and updated as deemed necessary, and President Regan added the criteria for those who suffered injury or death due to terrorism.