The Purple Heart was first awarded in 1782 as the \u201cBadge of Military Merit\u201d.\u00a0 However, a number of other US medals were authorized by the Continental Congress, struck, and awarded<\/a> that predate the Purple Heart.\u00a0 Most of these do not appear to qualify as military decorations per se<\/em>; rather, they were awarded to single individuals, had varying criteria, and had varying designs.\u00a0 They also appear to have been without a means of suspension to allow them to be worn with a uniform or civilian clothing; they were more like large coins than military decorations.\u00a0 In short, these medals appear to have been commemorative medals issued as a Congressional \u201cthank you\u201d to specific individuals by name (indeed, on several the individual being honored was portrayed), but not intended to be worn by the recipient as a military decoration.<\/p>\n However, one medal authorized by the Continental Congress exists that predates the Badge of Military Merit and which does appear to qualify as a military decoration.\u00a0 That medal has a standard design, had specific criteria, and was awarded to multiple individuals for exceptional performance of duty.\u00a0 This medal also has a suspension ring \u2013 and was thus clearly intended to be worn by the individual.\u00a0 That decoration is the Fidelity Medallion<\/a>, authorized by act of the Congressional Congress and awarded in 1780 \u2013 two years before the Badge of Military Merit<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Fidelity Medallion (AKA the “Andre Capture Medallion”)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Fidelity Medallion was awarded to three enlisted personnel of the Continental Army, all members of the New York militia:\u00a0 Privates John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams<\/a>. They received this award for capturing Major John Andre \u2013 the British recruiter, \u201chandler\u201d, and courier for US traitor and spy Benedict Arnold.\u00a0 For this reason the Fidelity Medallion is sometimes called the \u201cAndre Capture Medallion\u201d.<\/p>\n Since it was authorized by the Continental Congress for exceptional performance in connection with a specific act, only those three Fidelity Medallions were awarded.\u00a0 It was never awarded again and is now considered obsolete.\u00a0 However, it does appear to meet the criteria of a military decoration awarded for exceptional performance of duty.\u00a0 And it predates the Badge of Military Merit – the forerunner of today’s Purple Heart – by roughly two years.<\/p>\n Even though the above qualifies as trivia, IMO this info is interesting as US military history.\u00a0 And it might not be completely useless trivia, either.\u00a0 Knowing it might even allow you to win a libation or two in a friendly wager while socializing. (smile)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cdn2-b.examiner.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/image_content_width\/hash\/f9\/e7\/f9e7ab43994c118ff6869f8e977ccd87.jpg\")
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