Other Countries' Equivalent to US Purple Heart
genrl_m...@my-deja.com
major participants in WWII for being wounded in action. Have any other
countries issued such medals? The Purple Heart is one U.S. medal that
doesn't seem to carry a lot of respect in other countries. Perhaps
that's because it doesn't indicate any degree of heroism on the part of
the recipienct nor does it differentiate in the severity of the
wounds. Minor flesh wounds and severe debilitating injuries appear to
be awarded equally. Did other countries implement or consider similar
medals and did they consider the problems inherent with such a medal?
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Before you buy.
--
Donald Phillipson
> The U.S. Purple Heart is to my knowledge the only medal issued by the
> major participants in WWII for being wounded in action. Have any other
> countries issued such medals?
During WW1 the British army issued "wound stripes" worn on
the left cuff and elbow -- but not a medal or decoration.
These were not issued during WW2.
--
| Donald Phillipson, dphil...@trytel.com |
| Carlsbad Springs, Ottawa, Canada |
--
Bill Shatzer
On 24 Nov 2000 genrl_m...@my-deja.com wrote:
> The U.S. Purple Heart is to my knowledge the only medal issued by the
> major participants in WWII for being wounded in action. Have any other
> countries issued such medals?
Most countries had something roughly equivelent. Germany, for
instance,
had "wound badges" which came in black, silver, and gold varieties -
depending on the number of times one was wounded. The Soviet Union
likewise had a "wound badge" which came in two classes, depending on
the
severity of the wound. Most of the commonwealth forces similarly
awarded
"wound stripes".
The US was, however, the only nation which awarded an actual -medal-
for
war wounds, SFAIK. But then, the US has always been rather free about
awarding medals - it is, for instance, the only country I know of
which
actually awards a medal for being taken prisoner although that
particular
award is a post-WW2 invention.
Still, in many countries, being taken prisoner would get you shot
rather
than being awarded a medal.
Cheers and all,
REstey9690
Purple Heart. During the Kosovo campaign
the US military ordered several thousand more of the medal. This was
taken by
the
media as proof of heavy casualties. In reality this were the first
Purple
Hearts made since WWII. 1.5 million Purple Hearts were minted during
WWII -
about
1 million were issued. The remaining medals were put in storage and
issued
during Korean/Vietnam. During WWII the
Navy found itself short of the medals and was forced to "borrow"
60,000 from
the army. It is said that a Bronze or Silver star
without a Purple Heart is somewhat suspect.
rockbridge
reste...@aol.com (REstey9690) wrote:
> the army. It is said that a Bronze or Silver star
> without a Purple Heart is somewhat suspect.
>
>
The Army has issued Bronze Stars to every one that earned the CIB in
WW2. Issued is probably to strong autherized as it must be requested.
Donald Phillipson
> The U.S. Purple Heart is to my knowledge the only medal issued by the
> major participants in WWII for being wounded in action. Have any other
> countries issued such medals?
During WW1 the British army issued "wound stripes" worn on
Caldebs1
awarding it however.
Buzz
--
JDupre5762
>the left cuff and elbow -- but not a medal or decoration.
>These were not issued during WW2.
I think that the Wehrmacht did use wound badge of some kind during WW2. I
believe this is the stripe worn at the breast of the uniform tunic. I think
also it afforded the wearer some respect at least among groups that did not
wear it.
John Dupre'
--
C. Neitzel
>The U.S. Purple Heart is to my knowledge the only medal issued by the
>major participants in WWII for being wounded in action. Have any other
>countries issued such medals?
The German Forces issued the "Verwundetenabzeichen", Wounded Badge, in
Bronce, Silver or Gold, depending on the number or seriousness. I am
not quite sure about it, but I think I can remember it is issued for
one, three or five times being wounded, the silver one also for the
loss of a hand or foot, the golden one for the loss of an entire limb
or the eyesight, something like this.
--
Hal Hanig
"rockbridge" <rockb...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8vuha6$4ns$1...@beast.TCNJ.EDU...
> The Army has issued Bronze Stars to every one that earned the CIB in
> WW2.
I don't know what army you served in, but the one that took up my time during
WWII did NOT issue Bronze Stars like confetti. I knew some people who had the
CIB who did not get the Bronze Star. Are you sure that you haven't confused it
with the Good Conduct Medal which, as I recall, was generously awarded to one
and all who continued breathing and were able to stay out of the stockade or
brig over a modest period of time?
C. Neitzel
>The German Forces issued the "Verwundetenabzeichen", Wounded Badge, in
>Bronce, Silver or Gold,
Sorry, there is a mistake in my posting: The lowest level of the
Verwundetenabzeichen was black, not bronce. The badge showed a helmet
in front of crossed swords surrounded by oak leafs, if I recall
correctly.
rockbridge
"Hal Hanig" <halh...@earthlink.net.nospam> wrote:
> I don't know what army you served in, but the one that took up my
time during
> WWII did NOT issue Bronze Stars like confetti. I knew some people
who had the
> CIB who did not get the Bronze Star. Are you sure that you haven't
As established by EO9419 4 Feb 1944 and superseded by EO11046 24 Aug
1962. Para 2 (Lots left out for brevity) CIB or CMB considered as
citation in orders.
A request to the proper Army Department will produce a Bronze Star to
go with your CIB. As a past comander in the VFW we have helped many
Vets get the medals they are entitled to many got released from the
service before the medals came through.