Page "Purple Heart" Paragraph 33

As the Purple Heart did not exist prior to 1932, records of the decoration are not annotated in service histories of those veterans who were wounded or killed by enemy action prior to the establishment of the medal.

The Purple Heart, however, is retroactive to 1917 meaning that it may be presented to veterans as far back as the First World War.

Prior to 2006, service departments would review older service records, service histories, and all available records to determine if a veteran authorized a retroactive Purple Heart.

As of 2008, such records are listed as " Archival " by the National Archives and Records Administration meaning they have been transferred from the custody of the military and can no longer be loaned and transferred for retroactive medals determination.

In such cases, requestors asking for a Purple Heart ( especially from records of the First World War ) are provided with a complete copy of all available records ( or reconstructed records in the case of the 1973 fire ) and advised that the Purple Heart may be privately purchased if the requestor feels it is warranted.