Warsawan Works To Keep Purple Heart Recognition Alive
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Erin Windle-
Don Guard, a man who served 24 years in the military, is making it a mission to keep the recognition of the Purple Heart alive.
Guard made a presentation Monday at the Noon Optimists Club meeting to seek help. He intends to keep the Purple Heart in the public and let people know what it represents.
"Aug. 7, 2007, is the 75th anniversary of the Purple Heart," Guard said. His goal is to declare Aug. 1-7 a week to recognize the Purple Heart and locate the people who have them, dead and alive.
"Let's bring these people out, let us see them and talk to them," Guard said.
Guard kept everyone's attention, giving some history of the Purple Heart along with some facts.
There are two important things to know about the award, Guard said. One is that the Purple Heart is not a medal. If an award does not have the word medal included in the title, then it is rather a declaration. Secondly, one does not win or earn the award. Rather, they merit the award.
The Purple Heart came about when George Washington wanted to be able to award the "common soldier," but there was no money. Instead they made a badge of military merit in the shape of a heart, which stood for a soldier's love for their country.
The use of the Purple Heart faded in and out afterwards, dying at the end of the Revolutionary War but being redesigned by Douglas MacArthur to award soldiers wounded in combat. From World War II throughout the Vietnam War, the declaration was awarded to soldiers for various reasons.
"Now, to receive a Purple Heart, one must be wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of an enemy," Guard said. "The outcome is that more women today are earning the Purple Heart because they are out there in the middle of it all."
Guard said it bothered him personally to see young women being wounded in war, but in another sense he takes pride because women are meeting the same obligations as men.
Guard will be contacting civic groups and spreading awareness that the Purple Heart is, in fact, the oldest declaration in order.
"I'm retired," Guard said. "I have nothing else to do but to push this program."
Guard is a retired 1st Sergeant of the Marines. He served during WWII, in Korea and in Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal with valor, the Navy/Marine Corps Medal with valor, two Purple Hearts and various campaign medals. He's done two tours as a drill instructor and one tour as a recruiter. Guard retired from the military July 31, 1969, after 24 years of service.
