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Actually, I didn't really have any question about the Purple Heart. I believe I understood all that (except for the way they signify being wounded more than once).

I've always understood exactly what it was for.

My dad took a lot of shrapnel and was temporarily paralyzed on Iwo. Interestingly, I had an obnoxious (younger than my dad) uncle who was a career Army man. He used to ridicule my dad's Purple Heart, saying, "Those don't mean anything. They just go through the hospital and toss 'em on all the beds." (My dad, having nearly died on Iwo Jima and being proud of his Purple Heart, did not appreciate those remarks.)

I've heard other people suggest that they don't mean anything anymore, as well.

So no, I wasn't confusing the Bronze Star Medal with anything to do with that.

However, I DID learn something more about it all from you. Thanks. : )

He used to ridicule my dad's Purple Heart, saying, "Those don't mean anything. They just go through the hospital and toss 'em on all the beds." (My dad, having nearly died on Iwo Jima and being proud of his Purple Heart, did not appreciate those remarks.)

How AWFUL! I'd like to think that as soon as those words came out of your uncle's mouth that the entire family disowned him and the men beat him to a pulp. But it sounds like it was said more than once. Infuriating!