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. Badge of Military Merit File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... In the United States military, personal recognition is granted to service members by a number of awards and decorations. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... Awards and decorations of the United States military are military decorations which recognize a service members service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. ... The Fidelity Medallion is the oldest decoration of the United States military and was created by act of the Continental Congress in 1780. ...

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: George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799) was an American planter, political figure, the highest ranking military leader in US history and first President of the United States. ... The Continental Army was the unified command structure of the thirteen colonies fighting Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. ... August 7 is the 219th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (220th in leap years), with 146 days remaining. ... 1782 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Washingtons Headquarters State Historic Site is a historic site on the central Hudson River in New York State, United States of America which preserves the last and longest serving headquarters of George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. ...

"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: The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen North American colonies. ... A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or noncom, is a non-commissioned member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ...

• Sergeant Daniel Bissell of the 2d Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Line
• Sergeant William Brown of the 5th Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Line
• Sergeant Elijah Churchill of the 2d Continental Dragoons, which was also a Connecticut Regiment

Of the three original Badges of Military Merit, the only known surviving decoration is the badge awarded to Sergeant William Brown and is in the possession of The Society of the Cincinnati, New Hampshire Branch. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

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. 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... The United States Department of War was the military department of the United States governments executive branch from 1789 until 1949, when it became part of the United States Department of Defense. ... The Purple Heart is a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in, or with, the U.S. military after April 5, 1917. ... Army Wound Chevron A Wound Chevron was a badge of the United States Army which was authorized for wear on an Army uniform between the years of 1918 and 1932. ... Army Wound Ribbon The Army Wound Ribbon was a short lived decoration of the United States Army which was created on September 6, 1917 to recognize those soldiers who had received combat wounds during the First World War. ...