For Military Merit

More than one million men and women have received the Purple Heart since its creation as an award "for military merit" in 1932. This book provides a brief history of the Purple Heart, with a focus on how the decoration's award criteria have evolved. The book then takes a representative look at Purple Heart recipients from all the services by conflict, concluding with Afghanistan and Iraq.

Among the recipients highlighted are: Civil War veteran Pvt. Oran Randlett, who, in 1937, received two Purple Hearts for wounds received at Chancellorsville in 1863 and Cold Harbor in 1864; Brig. Gen. Robert Frederick, who received a record eight Purple Hearts for wounds in World War II; and crew members of USS Panay, who were awarded Purple Hearts fifty-five years after the 1937 Japanese attack on their gunboat.