Military Order of the Purple Heart: 6 Things You Should Know -

It is the oldest military award given to military members. Maybe you have seen license plates that read Purple Heart recipient or have a friend or family member who has been awarded a Purple Heart.

The fact is, any military member who has been awarded a Purple Heart has a story to tell, and we should listen!

The criteria to be awarded a Purple Heart is something many of us would want no part of. It is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any military member who has been wounded or killed in the line of duty.

The biggest difference between the Purple Heart and many other military awards is that it is not awarded based on a recommendation but just on the criteria that has been met.

Before I explain about the Military Order of the Purple Heart, here are

Some facts about the Purple Heart

The Purple Heart was one of the first awards in military history that could be given to lower-ranking, enlisted soldiers or non-commissioned officers for their outstanding service.
Purple Heart Day was established in 2014 to honor and recognize those who have been awarded the decoration.
An estimated 1.9 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since the order was established.
During the Revolutionary War, Continental Army soldiers William Brown and Elijah Churchill were the first soldiers to receive the Badge of Military Merit, the predecessor to the Purple Heart.
No individual can receive more than one Purple Heart. Subsequent injuries are recognized by oak-leaf clusters.
In 1942, Army Lt. Annie G. Fox became the first woman to receive a Purple Heart for her heroic actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
It’s against U.S. law to buy or sell Purple Hearts.
President John F. Kennedy is the only U.S. president with a Purple Heart.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is a congressionally chartered (Title 36 USC Chapter 1405) United States war veterans organization. Headquartered just outside Washington, D.C., it has a membership of approximately 45,300 veterans. It is unique in that its members are exclusively men and women who have received the Purple Heart award while serving as a member of the U.S. Military. ~ Wikipedia

What You Need To Know About The Military Order of the Purple Heart

#1: Congressionally Chartered

This organization is Congressionally chartered made up of Purple Heart recipients that support and assist all military veterans and their families. It was formed in 1932.

#2: Funding

The funding for this organization comes from service work, thrift stores and donations, as well as distribution of Purple Heart Viola Flowers.

#3: Service Offices

The Military Order of the Purple Heart has approximately 75 service offices in the mainland as well as Guam and Puerto Rico.

#4: The Mission

The Military Order of the Purple Heart mission statement reads:

The mission of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families.

#5: Programs

The Military Order of the Purple Heart has a variety of programs to help veterans. Included are:

suicide prevention
support for veterans with brain injuries
counseling for Post-Traumatic Stress
assistance for women’s health issues
scholarships
family assistance
claims assistance
employment training
and much more.

#6: Legal Assistance

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Program also provides expert legal opinions and representation for veterans before the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).

The Purple Heart is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat or by an act of international terrorism. Although our membership is restricted to the combat wounded, we support all veterans and their families with a myriad of nation-wide programs by Chapters and National Service Officers. ~ Military Order Of The Purple Heart

Final Thoughts

The Military Order of the Purple Heart is an excellent organization that helps.

We would love to hear your stories and if you have been involved with this organization.

Thank you for visiting and leave all questions and comments below.

Other posts you may enjoy:

Sincerely,

Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com

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John Tanzi

November 17, 2020 at 12:50

Hello, I would like to know why most civilians who clearly helped defend the United States of America at Pearl Harbor where really never recognized for their wounds sustained at Pearl. My father Wesley Tanzi was wounded three times while helping to push ships with their feet away from the wood docks. My father was with the War Department as a civilian engineer badge #1162 at Pearl Harbor. after the war congress passed a bill that said civilians who were within the three miles of the harbor were to be considered soldiers if hey were wounded in aid to their country. There appears to be no complete records of survivors or what they did to help defend their country. yet my father had three wounds from a Japanese aircraft striking him twice in the leg and one time thru the top of his skull and clearing away bone. I started to investigate this with my computer but there is nothing to be found as much to this day is redacted. My original thought was how my heart started beating so hard fast and I was so frightened when a bat came down my chimney. I thought of my father who didn`t tell us anything about the war. I thought how the men including my Dad, who brought men from Schofield Barracks to the docks to push ships so the docks would not burn, where did they get this bravery to stop in his truck and go and help others, people they did not know but to sit and push on ships while planes were strafing them with machine gun fire. They didn`t quit and run they stayed and did the best they could to fight back with what was available. Where does bravery come from. I just cannot find an understanding of these fine civilian men who helped so many and now are unrecognized for what they did. Five months later my father Wesley Tanzi was again wound on Christmas Island while building an airfield and barracks there. I do not know if he was wounded by the Japanese or from the uprising by the Indian troops and or the British controlling them, however wounded. There are no records that I can find with his name on anything except I have seen information about his injuries from both places in the San Francisco Examiner news paper. Thank you John Tanzi

1 thought on “Military Order of the Purple Heart: 6 Things You Should Know”

John Tanzi
November 17, 2020 at 12:50

Hello, I would like to know why most civilians who clearly helped defend the United States of America at Pearl Harbor where really never recognized for their wounds sustained at Pearl. My father Wesley Tanzi was wounded three times while helping to push ships with their feet away from the wood docks. My father was with the War Department as a civilian engineer badge #1162 at Pearl Harbor. after the war congress passed a bill that said civilians who were within the three miles of the harbor were to be considered soldiers if hey were wounded in aid to their country. There appears to be no complete records of survivors or what they did to help defend their country. yet my father had three wounds from a Japanese aircraft striking him twice in the leg and one time thru the top of his skull and clearing away bone. I started to investigate this with my computer but there is nothing to be found as much to this day is redacted. My original thought was how my heart started beating so hard fast and I was so frightened when a bat came down my chimney. I thought of my father who didn`t tell us anything about the war. I thought how the men including my Dad, who brought men from Schofield Barracks to the docks to push ships so the docks would not burn, where did they get this bravery to stop in his truck and go and help others, people they did not know but to sit and push on ships while planes were strafing them with machine gun fire. They didn`t quit and run they stayed and did the best they could to fight back with what was available. Where does bravery come from. I just cannot find an understanding of these fine civilian men who helped so many and now are unrecognized for what they did. Five months later my father Wesley Tanzi was again wound on Christmas Island while building an airfield and barracks there. I do not know if he was wounded by the Japanese or from the uprising by the Indian troops and or the British controlling them, however wounded. There are no records that I can find with his name on anything except I have seen information about his injuries from both places in the San Francisco Examiner news paper. Thank you John Tanzi