Who was the first Purple Heart recipient in the US Navy?

Answer 1

AnswerIt was originally called the Badge of Military Merit.

"The first Badges of Military Merit were awarded on May 3, 1783 at Gen. Washington's Continental Army "Headquarters, Newburgh" on the west bank of the Hudson River in the state of New York. The first went to Sergeant Elijah Churchill, a 26-year old member of the Fourth Troop of the Second Continental Dragoons from Connecticut. In November, 1780 Sergeant Churchill commanded an attacking force which successfully destroyed a British supply fort on long Island and took 300 prisoners. A year later, in October, Churchill was the only man wounded in a successful raid against the British stronghold at Fort Slongo on Long Island."

http://lala.essortment.com/purpleheartrec_reqr.htm

There is no record as to who was awarded first modern (1932 and after) Purple Heart medal, so no one can prove who was the first "modern" recipient. Army Chief of Staff (in 1932) Douglass MacArthur ordered that his own Purple Heart be assigned number one, but that happened after the Purlple Hearts medals had been distributed for months and across the nation, with and without ceremony.

Answer 2

It's difficult to answer this even if one had a list or recipients (which one could possibly obtain from the Navy and/or Marine Corps), because, although Pres. Roosevelt first authorised the award of the Purple Heart to sailors and marines wounded or killed on or after December 6, 1941, Pres. Truman extended the period back to April 5, 1917, so it might be said that a sailor or marine who earned the medal in World War 1 was an earlier recipient than one who earned it in WW2.

Answer 3

George Washington awarded the first Purple Hearts, then known as Badges of Military Merit on May 3, 1783 to Sergeant Elijah Churchill of the Fourth Troop of the Second Continental Dragoons, Connecticut.

Answer 4

Wasn't President Kennedy awarded one in WW II?