The Purple Heart Medal, received by V. Venditto for being wounded in the Korean War

The original medal is in excellent collector's condition. Bronze, gilding, enamel. In the original leather case. On the reverse of the medal, the name of the owner "Virgil A. Venditto" is Private Virgil Albert Venditto of the 25th Infantry Division of the US Army (August 2, 1930, Missouri -1980), who was wounded in October 1951 in Korea. He died on January 14, 1980 in Los Angeles, and is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood. The set also includes the patch of the 25th Division, which belonged to the soldier. 

The Purple Heart is a United States military medal awarded to all American servicemen who died or were injured as a result of enemy actions. The Purple Heart sign was installed by George Washington in 1782. Officially, only three such awards were awarded and it was no longer used until 1861. Initially, it was made simply of silk cloth, which was stretched over a silver heart-shaped bracket. In 1861, the U.S. Congress decided to establish the "Medal of Honor", which thus became the highest distinction in the country only because there were no orders in the United States. The medal was made of gold in the form of a five-pointed star with a trefoil at the ends of its rays. Because of this, the Purple Heart was in second place in importance. The modern Purple Heart Medal was created on February 22, 1932, by a directive signed by the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Douglas MacArthur, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. It was stamped from tin covered with purple enamel. Until 1942, the Purple Heart was awarded only to members of the U.S. Army. At first, the award was made for military merit, and a combat wound was also regarded as merit. Since 1943, the medal has been awarded exclusively for combat wounds. After the war in Korea and Vietnam, the Purple Heart was given to every seriously wounded person without much ceremony, just according to the appropriate hospital lists.