Purple Heart

This past week, Joy and I have been listening to some of the President's Day shows on RUSC, and one particular show has had me hooked.

Interestingly, at the end of the show, there is a short interview with a serving US Corporal, and wearer of the Purple Heart award, and Silver Star for gallantry.  

On the eve of the 283rd birthday of the first President of the United States, George Washington, on 22nd February, it's a timely story, because the award of the Purple Heart, or Badge of Military Merit, was originally created by George Washington to reward troops for "unusual gallantry" and "extraordinary fidelity and essential service." it was established by order from Newburgh, the New York headquarters of the President, on August 7, 1782.

The award itself was a purple cloth heart edged in silver braid, and was to be worn over the left breast of the uniform. Only three of the original awards are known to have been issued, all of them to Revolutionary War soldiers. Two of the medals are known to exist today. 

Although never abolished, the award of the badge was not proposed again officially until after World War I, when, by Executive Order of the President of the United States, the Purple Heart was revived in 1932 on the 200th Anniversary of George Washington's birth, out of respect to his memory and military achievements.

Doing a 'quick search' in RUSC's extensive old time radio database, revealed that several stars from the golden age of radio were also awarded the Purple Heart. 

In 1941 after becoming a regular singer on the Bob Hope Show along with Hope, Frances Langford visited GI's in England, Africa, Sicily, the Caribbean and the Pacific earning her the nickname the sweetheart of the fighting fronts.

She continued her commitment to servicemen when she returned to the United States, and in 1944-45, she wrote a diary for the New York Journal-American about her experiences visiting servicemen who had been wounded in World War Two known as The Purple Heart Diary. 

Frances Langford did as much to promote the war effort as any entertainer during the World War II era. She was a wonderfully, warm and caring person, who was tireless in garnering support for the troops and ensuring that the wounded had supplies that boosted morale and made them comfortable. Her husky voice and enthusiastic energy on the radio made her a natural star. For her efforts during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, Frances Langford received the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Other stars included:-

• Ed Kemmer alias Buzz Corry commander of United Planets' Space Patrol was another recipient of the Purple Heart. During World War II he served in the USAAF and in 1944, after his fighter plane was shot down over France, he spent 11 months in a German prisoner of War Camp.
• Sam Fuller, the producer and director of the Aldrich Family, enlisted as an infantryman during World War II, and saw heavy fighting. He was involved in landings in Africa, Sicily, and Normandy and also saw action in Belgium and the Czech Republic (or Czechoslovakia as it was known then). 
• Lee Marvin, a United States Marine who, after being wounded in action during the WWII Battle of Saipan, was medically discharged and went on to become a Hollywood star. 
• Kurt Vonnegut, a writer on the series Dimension X, whose experience as a soldier and prisoner of war had a profound influence on his later work, when he became a best-selling author. 

If you'd like to listen to any other shows about the past Presidents of the United States, please click on this link, where you will find a page loaded with shows, from which you can pick and choose what you'd like to add to your playlist.

Happy listening my friends,