usmedalman Posted July 7, 2019 Share #1 Posted July 7, 2019 What are your thoughts on this Purple Heart? Privately engraved? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Linz Posted July 7, 2019 Share #2 Posted July 7, 2019 Yes I would say privately engraved. Especially if it is to a Wounded-In-Action sailor. I have a couple of similar Purple Hearts that I think were engraved in theater prior to presentation. Interesting that the ones I've all have dates on them too. Do you know anything about Walsh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmedalman Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted July 7, 2019 Bruce, Only that the medal came with an American Campaign medal and an ETO medal. I am sure it is WIA, but the engraving style doesn't look like any of the post-WWII privately engraved pieces I have seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeclown Posted July 7, 2019 Share #4 Posted July 7, 2019 What part of the country did you purchase it in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 7, 2019 Share #5 Posted July 7, 2019 Very nice privately engraved Navy or Marine Purple Heart. I commonly see the dates engraved on these kind of WIA Navy PHs. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmedalman Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted July 7, 2019 Thanks for the feedback. Attached is a picture of the front. I have never seen this type of damage to the center plastic heart almost looks like they didn't put enough plastic into the mold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 7, 2019 Share #7 Posted July 7, 2019 That is heat damage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmedalman Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share #8 Posted July 7, 2019 That is heat damage What could have caused this? Seems like it would have needed to be pretty hot. Do you think this happened during production or after? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted July 8, 2019 Share #9 Posted July 8, 2019 What could have caused this? Seems like it would have needed to be pretty hot. Do you think this happened during production or after? Since it doesn't appear that the medal was exposed to flame, my guess would be it got hot enough sitting in an attic or storage unit. If the Purple Heart was found locally to you in AZ, I would not at all be surprised if it was exposed to heat enough to melt the center over the years. Also, I agree that this is 100% privately engraved. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11/17thark Posted July 8, 2019 Share #10 Posted July 8, 2019 I've seen this happen at outdoor sales, where the medal was displayed in a glass covered case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 8, 2019 Share #11 Posted July 8, 2019 Since it doesn't appear that the medal was exposed to flame, my guess would be it got hot enough sitting in an attic or storage unit. If the Purple Heart was found locally to you in AZ, I would not at all be surprised if it was exposed to heat enough to melt the center over the years. Also, I agree that this is 100% privately engraved. Dave The weather in Ohio might be hot enough too Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted July 11, 2019 Share #12 Posted July 11, 2019 The majority of engraved Navy WIA Purple Hearts I have seen include a date. My guess, this was an official practice near the hospitals, overseas and in the US. However, it needs to be proven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 13, 2019 Share #13 Posted July 13, 2019 Just sold for $290 + 20% commission on Live Auctioneers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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