Who is the only US President to receive a Purple Heart?
As many other U.S. military awards, the Purple Heart is meant display the outstanding achievements of the American army men. It's a United States military decoration awarded to those wounded or killed in combat while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military.
Prior to becoming President of the US in 1961, John F. Kennedy was a Lieutenant in the US Navy in World War 2 serving in the Pacific. He was Commanding Officer of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 which collided with and was sunk by a Japanese destroyer in August 1943. As a result of being injured in the collision, he received the Purple Heart award, and so did another million soldiers of World War 2. This makes him the only US president to be awarded this military medal.
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88 Comments
jferengi
The more I learn about GHW Bush the more I respect him. He had a free ride to Yale University but postponed it to enlist to fight in WW2. At age 18 he became the youngest fighter pilot in the Navy. He didn't get wounded and didn't crash into any enemy planes. But he fought for his country.
Michael Neal
I told myself Wait for it...... someone is going to take a history question about President John F Kennedy and somehow make turn into something about President Obama!!!!!!!!
Tom Erskine
Being in the Navy would have made him a sailor - not a soldier. To a non-military person, and apparently to someone who speaks English as a second language, this is a small matter.
To someone who served, especially with enough distinction to be awarded a medal, it is a very big deal.
You're welcome.
JD Sebring
jferengi, he did get shot down and was rescued at sea after several hours. He did indeed serve with distinction!
Zeke Topaz
Joanne Serin, 😆 amen to that.
joycekingsmith
President Kennedy was Navy not Army and the purpie heart is awarded to women who have been been wounded in battle. Not just men. Revise please.
Kay Galloway
GHW Bush was a carrier pilot in the Pacific, was shot down, survived, was picked up and lived to tell the story.
Donna Smith
Got the correct answer
Rainer Wetjen
Barry Randall, get your facts Straight!
Joanne Serin
tRump really wanted one. He should have taken his bone spurs over to Nam to earn it.
littledick
Our last four presidents have never really served in our military (this figure includes the current one), yet have no bones about sending us to fight other peoples' wars.
littledick
jferengi, And that's a lot more than we can say for his son.
thevoyers
I find it hard to understand, after everything our Founding Fathers got right at the time of writing and development of The Constitution and Bill Of Rights and all Amendments, they would allow none veterans to be Commander In Chief!
thevoyers
jferengi, plus was shot down in Japanese held territory, along with the rest of his flight of six fighters, all but him was captured an beheaded! He was helped by Australian Coastal Watchers to return to his unit.
WYcowboy0360
Lynne Zeman, Kennedy severely injured his back when his PT boat was cut in half by a Japanese Destroyer. He then had to assist his men to get them to land, which he did. He suffered from back pain until his assassination Nov 22, 1963.
pamela h
That wasn't too hard to guess by process of elimination
james parrillo
Nancy Link, Please do not be aggravated with civilians that mean no disrespect when referring to the military troops. I once asked a police chief if it was appropriate to call each of his uniformed staff an officer, because I did not know if saying officer was inappropriate for an inspector, for example. He seemed offended. He corrected, all my men are officers. I wanted to be most respectful, but he misinterpreted my question. I only recently learned that one person in the military is a troop. I thought a troop would be a group. Thank you, Christine, James's wife