The Purple Heart is the oldest and arguably most famous military award in the U.S. Its origins stretch back to 1782 and the Badge of Military Merit — a heart made of purple cloth — which became the modern Purple Heart in 1932. The medal is awarded to U.S. military service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action. In total, more than 1.8 million Purple Heart medals have been presented. However, it’s far from the only military decoration in the U.S. In fact, t...
