![Purple Heart Medal Purple Heart Medal](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-41od73eafx/images/stencil/300x300/products/124/421/lm491-purple-heart__97300.1650628442.jpg?c=1)
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 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.