Purple Heart Info

[PeacefulMuslim]

I just read an article about a "home invasion" which resulted in the theft of a Purple Heart. My question is this: Are all Purple Hearts engraved with the recipients name on the back? My grandfather received a Purple Heart during WWI and his name is engraved on the back.

 

[Hustler One]

I just read an article about a "home invasion" which resulted in the theft of a Purple Heart. My question is this: Are all Purple Hearts engraved with the recipients name on the back? My grandfather received a Purple Heart during WWI and his name is engraved on the back.

Either that used to be the standard back then or he/someone had it engraved, but afaik no.

 

[Skysoldier]

Most awards are were given without any engraving.....at least in my era. (66-73)

 

[garandman]

Some were engraved in years past.

http://www.purplehearts.net/id6.html

 

[PeacefulMuslim]

I just found this site last night, thanks for posting though. It looks like a type 1A but cannot find the numbers or they are to faint to read. Thanks again.

Some were engraved in years past.

http://www.purplehearts.net/id6.html

 

[Pilgrim]

my father's WWII PH is engraved.

 

[dustoff22]

My father's PH from WW1 is engraved and quite a bit differently put together than the unengraved PH I received from Vietnam. No doubt the government cheapened the materials in later 'models'.

 

[PeacefulMuslim]

The manufacturers actually requested the change. The early ones (WWI) had porcelain hearts and were difficult to work with. At some point they switched to plastic, I am guessing sometime during WWII.

 

[M60]

Most awards are were given without any engraving.....at least in my era. (66-73)

second that Sky

 

[mark056]

My father's PH from WW1 is engraved and quite a bit differently put together than the unengraved PH I received from Vietnam. No doubt the government cheapened the materials in later 'models'.

A lot depends , I think today regarding your specific unit. I don't think most decorations are engraved today, although there are, I am sure exceptions

The Purple Hearts issued thru Viet Nam and into the actions of the 80's like the invasion of Grenada were left overs from WWII manufactured for the anticipated invasion of Japan that never happened.

 

[icarus]

Up until ww2, and perhaps a bit longer each heart was engraved with a number, and that number to a person, there for you can look up who a serialized heart belongs to. But they stopped serializing them. I don't know when however.

Im almost 100% sure none of OEF or OIF are. Mine isn't at least.

 

[PeacefulMuslim]

I spotted a couple medals at the "Museum of WWII" last weekend and a couple had the names engraved, one had the date it was earned.

 

[Obie1]

my father's WWII PH is engraved.

As is my father's