Is there a way to look up Purple Heart recipients?
Jessica Cortez
Updated on April 04, 2026
How do I locate a Purple Heart recipient in the Roll of Honor Online? First select “Roll of Honor” from the links at the top of the homepage of this website. Second, type the name of the individual you are looking for (Last Name, First Name only). Select the search button.
How many Purple Hearts were awarded in WWII?
1 million Purple Hearts
The oldest active military medal in the United States, over 1 million Purple Hearts were awarded during World War II.
Who has been awarded the Purple Heart?
The Purple Heart medal is presented to service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. military. A Purple Heart is a solemn distinction and means a service member has greatly sacrificed themselves, or paid the ultimate price, while in the line of duty.
How much is a World War 2 Purple Heart worth?
In today’s military collectibles market, Purple Hearts doled out during World War II tend to be worth $300 to $400, Kraska said.
How many Purple Heart recipients are alive today?
| Purple Heart | |
|---|---|
| Total | Approximately 1,910,162 (as of June 5, 2010) |
| Total awarded posthumously | Approximately 430,000 |
| Total recipients | over 2,000,000 (including eligible casualties in World War I who may not have been awarded the Purple Heart) |
| Website | media.defense.gov |
Is the Purple Heart a medal of Honor?
The highest ranking military medals are awarded for valor and heroism, honoring those who serve in combat and perform above and beyond the call of duty….
| Related Articles | |
|---|---|
| Medal of Honor Benefits | Distinguished Service Cross |
| National Medal of Honor Day | Purple Heart Benefits |
| How to Replace Lost Military Medals | Silver Star |
What actor was awarded the Purple Heart twice for his service?
James Garner
James Scott Bumgarner, a.k.a. James Garner, served in the Merchant Marines, the Oklahoma National Guard, and the U.S. Army. Garner was injured in the Korean War and twice awarded the Purple Heart before being discharged in 1952.
What do Purple Heart recipients receive?
Purple Heart recipients are automatically granted full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regardless of the amount of time they spent on active duty. Normally to get the full Post-9/11 GI Bill, a veteran needs to serve at least 36 months of active duty.
What is the rarest war medal?
The Victoria Cross is the ‘holy grail’ for medal collectors because there are only 1,357 in existence. Bearing the inscription ‘For valour’ and known as a VC, this medal was first awarded for ‘conspicuous bravery’ in 1856 and later backdated to the Crimean war of 1854.
Can Purple Heart recipients use the commissary?
A: Yes. Veterans with a Department of Veterans Affairs-documented service-connected disability rating will be eligible for Department of Defense and Coast Guard commissary, exchange and MWR retail privileges beginning Jan. 1, 2020, under the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018.
Do Purple Heart recipients pay taxes?
This special pay is considered an entitlement (tax-free) paid in addition to “any retired pay” the veteran is already entitled to. In order to qualify as a Purple Heart recipient, veterans must apply via their branch of the military meet the following conditions: Waive your VA disability pay from your retired pay.
How to find Purple Heart recipients?
There is the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor (part of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation) that is building a database of Purple Heart recipients from all branches of service, all wars for which the Purple Heart was awarded, and from all across the nation.
Where can you find list of Purple Heart recipients from the Vietnam War?
Over 350,000 Purple Hearts were awarded during the Vietnam War. Well-known soldier recipients include Generals Colin L. Powell, H. Norman Schwarzkopf, and Eric K. Shinseki. In 1963, then twenty-six-year-old Powell was wounded when he “stepped into a punji trap” while serving as an advisor to a South Vietnamese Army unit.
What are the requirements for a Purple Heart?
Criteria. A Purple Heart is awarded for the first wound suffered under conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an oak leaf cluster or 5/16 inch star is worn in lieu of another medal. Not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instant.
What is the history of the Purple Heart Medal?
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members – the only earlier award being the obsolete Fidelity Medallion .
