VFW News: The Final Chapter

August is Antiterrorism Awareness Month which is fitting as we began our chapter on September 2022 with 9/11. Although we should always remain vigilant in light of attacks carried out during the past few years, Antiterrorism Awareness Month should be a time we instill heightened awareness and employees, locations and operations from vigilance to prevent terrorist attacks and protect DLA [Defense Logistics Agency].

How many of you know of a person who has earned a Purple Heart while in combat or giving their life in the line of battle? Purple Heart Day is observed on August 7 each year and is a time for Americans to remember and honor the brave men and women who were either wounded on the battlefield or paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.

The nine points and interesting tidbits of the Purple Heart:

1. The Purple Heart is the oldest military award still presented to American service members.

2. The Purple Heart was one of the first military medals given to all ranks.

3. Today’s Purple Heart Medal and eligibility gives thanks to Army General Douglas MacArthur, as of 1932, the symbol received its modern day look.

4. Who received the first Purple Heart in U.S. history? It was during the Revolutionary War, soldiers William Brown and Elijah Churchill received the “Badge of Merit”, the predecessor to the Purple Heart.

5. Famous recipients begins with the legendary Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller. Two animals, Sgt. Stubby, the dog, and Sgt. Reckless, the horse.

6. The first woman to receive the Purple Heart Medal was in 1942, Army Lt. Annie G. Fox for her heroic actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

7. John F. Kennedy is the only president to have earned a Purple Heart.

8. How many Purple Hearts can one receive? Curry T. Haynes currently holds the record. He was shot in the arm in Viet Nam, had surgery, returned to the front where his actions would later result in being awarded NINE Purple Hearts from several injuries.

9. The USO supports the Purple Heart recipients according to their mission which states the purpose of the organization is to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country forever.

Agent Orange, noted on August 10, every year: several families have direct contact and knowledge of this decision our government made to defoliate the foliage from battlegrounds to eliminate the enemy’s protective ground cover. Many health problems have stemmed from Agent Orange.

The last topic for the month of August is the Navajo Code Talkers Day celebrated on the 14th day of August.

During World War I, the Choctaw tribe’s language was called upon to relate coded messages.

One member integral in creating the military code was Philip Johnston. He was a white soldier but knew the language well. He recruited the native speakers necessary to the Code Talker’s success.

In the beginning, 29 Code Talkers carried out a tremendous mission during World War II. The number of Code Talkers grew steadily. Until 1968 the program remained classified. Then the U.S. presented the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers with Congressional Gold Medal, Additionally, the remaining Navajo Code Talkers were presented with Congressional Silver Medals.

And, there you have twelve months of military history you may have remembered or not.