Badge of Military Merit
The
Badge of Military Merit is considered to be the first official
military combat badge of the
United States Armed Forces. It is the second oldest
United States military award in existence, the oldest being the
Fidelity Medallion.
The Badge of Military Merit was first announced in General
George Washington's general orders to the
Continental Army issued on
August 7,
1782 at the
Headquarters in Newburgh. It was intended as a military order for soldiers who displayed exceptional meritorious service in battle. The writings of General Washington quoted in part:
"The General ever desirous to cherish a virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military Merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward."
The Badge of Military Merit, designed in the form of a Purple Heart, soon became known as the
Order of the Purple Heart. Historical records indicate that only three people received the Badge of Military Merit during the
American Revolutionary War, all of them
non-commissioned officers. Those soldiers are as follows:
* Sergeant
Daniel Bissell of the
2nd Connecticut Regiment of the
Connecticut Line* Sergeant
William Brown of the
5th Connecticut Regiment of the
Connecticut Line* Sergeant
Elijah Churchill of the
2nd Continental Light Dragoons, which was also a Connecticut Regiment
Sergeant William Brown's badge is in the possession of The Society of the Cincinnati, New Hampshire Branch. The photograph above shows Sergeant Churchill's badge.
After the Revolutionary War, the Badge of Military Merit fell into disuse although was never officially abolished. In
1932, the
United States War Department authorized the new
Purple Heart Medal for soldiers who had previously received either a
Wound Chevron or the
Army Wound Ribbon. At that time, it was also determined that the Purple Heart Medal would be considered the official "successor decoration" to the Badge of Military Merit.
'''Footnotes
#A photograph of Sergeant Brown's badge appears on page 423 (Plate VII) of the National Geographic publication Insignia and Decorations of the U.S.Armed Forces.
