MOTION PICTURE CHAPTER 1898 MOPH

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THE ORIGIN OF THE PURPLE HEART

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) was founded upon issued by General Georlge Washington at Newburg, New York. on August 7, 1782, during the Revolutionary War.

On May 3, 1783 General Washington presented The Badge of Military Merit to two soldiers from Connecticut. Sergeant Elijah Churchill had been a carpenter before entering the Continental Army as a private years earlier. He was cited for gallantry in action at Fort St. George near Brookhaven on Long Island, at Coram, New York in November 1780, as well as a subsequent action at Tarrytown, New York in July 1781. Sergeant William Brown was also cited. Though records of his citation have not been recovered, it is generally believed he was cited for his gallantry during the siege of Yorktown.

After the war, records of the decoration were presumed lost. Shortly before the bicentennial of Washington's birth, John Fitzpatrick, Custodian of Documents of the Congressional Library, discovered records of the decoration and its award by Washington. He found these treasured documents among the great quantity of musty, half-burned bundles of official papers that had fortunately been saved from the burning of Washington, D.C., in the War of 1812. Fitzpatrick then, for the first time, called it "The Purple Heart."Upon President Herbert Hoover's direction, General Douglas MacArthur, Chief-of-Staff of the U.S. Army, issued an order on February 22, 1932, reviving the Purple Heart decoration in honor of our first President. Thus, the Purple Heart in the design known today, became the first U.S. military decoration, as General Washington had directed. Shortly after the award was re-instituted, a group of combat-wounded veterans in Ansonio, Connecticut, formed the first chapter of the civilian organization whose membership was comprised of recipients of the decoration. Their action gave birth to a fraternal body which, until then, had been but a record on paper. The living organization grew rapidly during and after World War II and is now a nationwide body of men and women. It became known as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart of the United States of America, Inc." The organization was chartered by Congress by HR 13558, which became Public Law 85-761, on August 26, 1958.

The Purple heart as we know it now is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed force who, while serving with the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded. A wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer

Criteria:
1. For wounds or death sustained in action against an enemy of the United States;

2. In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged;

3. While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party;

4. As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces;

5. As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force;

6. After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States by a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the department concerned, or jointly by Secretaries of the departments concerned if persons from more than one department are wounded in the attack; or

7. After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations, while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.

8. After 7 December 1941, by weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict, regardless of the fire causing the wound (friendly fire).

While held as a prisoner of war or while being taken captive.

It has not been uncommon in time of war, for soldiers to be wounded more than one time. (Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Robert Howard was wounded 14 times in 54 months of combat duty, for a total of 9 awards of the Purple Heart.) As with other military awards, subsequent awards of the Purple Heart are designated by the addition of one oak leaf cluster for each additional award.

Our Chapter history begins when we were originally known as The Motion Picture Chapter 1898. But we were also known as Audie Murphy Motion Picture Chapter 1898 and the Hollywood Chapter 1898. Our Chapter 1898 was just reformed this year when the New officers were sworn in at The American Legion Post 280 in Pasadena.