Were Purple Hearts awarded during WWI?

No Purple Hearts were not awarding during WWI, soldiers received a red "wound stripe" that they would wear on their uniforms. However soldiers were able to retroactively request a purple heart, is they could show evidence they were wounded during the war.

Someone from the National Archives can provide updated information but in the past we've sent people to the Awards and Decorations branch. You do have to have some official military document which shows proof the soldier was wounded in service.

Lisa Sharik

Deputy Director

Texas Military Forces Museum

txmilmuseum@gmail.com

Dear Ms. Balch,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

The Purple Heart medal as it is known today was not awarded during WWI. It was established in 1932, but was and can be awarded retroactively to soldiers who served after April 5, 1917. Please read more about the history of the Purple Heart in this article, “A Heart of Purple” from NARA’s Prologue (Winter 2012 issue) magazine.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!

Ms. Balch,

The Purple Heart Medal wasn't created until February 22, 1932 by General Order No. 3 from the War Department. The same order stated that all service members that were wounded were eligible to receive the Purple Heart Medal; retroactive to April 5, 1917. Prior to the PH, the War Department had a system of denoting WIA (Wounded in Action) like the Army Wound Ribbon and wound chevrons. Anyone who had these or proof of being hospitalized from a battlefield injury could receive the PH.

NARA wrote a great article on the history of the Purple Heart if you want to know more: https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2021/08/05/for-wounds-received-in-action-the-history-of-the-purple-heart-medal/