Who has recieved the Purple Heart?

They come from the beaches at Normandy, the bleak hillsides of Korea, the jungles of Vietnam and the streets and sandy expanses of Iraq. They are soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen. They share a bond that, in truth, most of them would probably prefer was more unique. Since 1932 when it was first awarded to a small group of World War I veterans, about 1.7 million Americans have been awarded the Purple Heart for being injured or killed in combat. It is at once a testament to man's inability to share this planet peacefully and to the courage and sacrifice of so many Americans who have placed themselves in harm's way — voluntarily or not — to defend certain ideals.
The Purple Heart is in many ways the perfect symbol for Veterans Day, which is being celebrated officially today. It is entirely democratic. It does not seek out the brave or avoid the less brave. If you wear your country's uniform and you are injured in combat, you get it. If you are killed, your family receives it for you posthumously. All the medals come with stories, some of unimaginable bravery, some poignant, some not. Together, they offer a mosaic of Americans across seven decades of conflict. They remind us of the potential danger that awaits all those who serve their country and give us, if we allow ourselves a moment of honest reflection, reason to say, "Thank you." www.purpleheart.org