# What was the first military medal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-military-medal/90352 "2001-10-29T19:51:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-military-medal/90352/1 "2001-10-29T19:51:21Z")
I know that commendations for military excellence go back at least as far as Roman times. What was the first medal given to a soldier for valor during battle? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-military-medal/90352/2 "2001-10-29T20:18:08Z")
I’m not sure about world history on this one; the first American medal given for outstanding valor and service was the Purple Heart, given to troops of the American Revolution for actions above and beyond the call of duty. It wasn’t a medal as we think of them today; it was a cloth patch (purple and heart-shaped, which really isn’t a big surprise) designed to be sewn onto the coat. It wasn’t given out with any real authority or officialness; I’ll have to go back to my books this evening to get more details on it. It certainly didn’t last beyond the Revolutionary War, though later on it would be brought out as a medal recognizing those wounded or killed in action. Very few medals showed up in the War of 1812 or Mexican War; most of those given were merely small tokens of esteem or camraderie, with no real official military sanction. During the Civil War would come the Medal of Honor, which was the first real medal officially given out by the government in honor of great service (though sometimes for political service rather than military service; around the turn of the century, Congress held an investigation into the awarding of the medals and decided to rescind two-thirds of those that had been awarded because they didn’t truly deserve the merit. For example, an entire company had been awarded the Medal for staying at the battle of Gettysburg even though their commissions officially ended half-way through the battle. It was around World War I- shortly before, if I recall, but again, I’m away from my great book on the subject- that the U.S. Army reorganized their medals and came up with most of what are the standards today- the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Purple Heart, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-military-medal/90352/3 "2001-10-29T23:55:30Z")
The [Purple Heart](http://www.purpleheart.org/explanation.htm) is the first US decoration, and is the oldest decoration in existance in it’s _current_ useage, but it’s use these days is for being wounded by enemy action, as opposed to courage, gallantry, or such. Whatever it’s current use, it’s _original_ use was for gallantry and meritorious action. > [@](#): > > “The General, ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers as well as foster and encourage every species of military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with due reward… The name and regiment of the persons so certified are to be enrolled in a Book of Merit which shall be kept in the orderly room… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-military-medal/90352/4 "2001-10-30T00:13:42Z")
The first “military medal” was a coin or piece of captured jewelry, give by a leader to a rank & file follower as a cheap reward for bravery, & to encourage the other to try harder next time. Eventually, this was pinned or otherwise attached to the soldier’s garmet; either to keep it, or to show it off to others. Later, this process formalized, with pre-attached pins & ribbons. ---
**Author:** ![cmburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@cmburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmburns)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-military-medal/90352/5 "2001-10-30T00:56:19Z")
Roman soldiers were awarded medallions called phalerae, which were small metal disks that could be worn on a chest harness. As Bosda said, these may have been more on the order of bribes, with the reward to the soldier more monetary than honorary.