UBB.threads Forums General Militaria United States Militaria Purple Heart Number Research

Gents,

Primarily a German collector except for nice groupings and such. I should be shooting photos of a samurai but can't get the right light with my schedule. Anyway...

I've got a couple of nice Purple HEarts (appear to be Army issue) that are numbered. Is there a means to check the numbers to determine who it was awarded to and when? Any help or direction you could provide would be most appreicated.

Unfortunately WWII Purple Hearts cannot be traced to individuals by numbers alone. The Purple Heart was revived by presidential order In war Dept orders no.3 3 Feb 1932. I do not know about the numbering of these early Purple Hearts and if they can be traced by number. I believe that the numbered medals began in 1942. Two government contracts were awarded for Purple Hearts in July of 1942. Rex Products for numbers 100,000 to 400,000 and Robbins Company 400,001 -600,000 Navy Purple Hearts of WWII vintage are gold washed sterling with split wrap brooch. The initial order from the US mint by the navy called for 135,000 medals. Navy WWII Purple Hearts were not numbered.Late war 1944-45 Navy PH's Were bronze. Hope this helps.

On occasion you will find an award order where it will have the soldiers name and the heart number issued written on it. But those are few & far between.

If the number is less than circa 60,000, chances are it's for WWI and is traceable from award cards at St Louis. If the number is higher than that, it's a crapshoot and the odds are slim without a copy of the General Orders authorising the Purple Heart.