Bill by Sen. David Perdue would make selling Purple Hearts illegal

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., is leading an effort to make it illegal for second parties to sell Purple Heart medals, which are awarded to U.S. military personnel who are wounded in service.

Perdue, who said he could not believe the sale of Purple Heart medals was not already illegal, introduced the Private Corrado Piccoli Purple Heart Preservation Act on March 29. A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. House in January by U.S. Rep. Paul Cook, R-Calif.

“Many Purple Heart medals are lost and stolen from the original recipient or their family members,” Perdue said. “It is our job to preserve the sacrifices made by our servicewomen and men. To do this successfully, we need to stop second-hand parties from selling our veterans’ treasured medals.

“Frankly, I cannot believe this hasn’t already been done and I will continue to do all I can to honor the many sacrifices our troops have made to protect our freedoms.”

Perdue’s office said the bill is named for a World War II infantryman who was killed in action in October 1944 in Fremifontaine, France. Pvt. Corrado Piccoli, who was initially listed as missing in action, was assigned to Company H, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.

Stami Williams, with Perdue’s Washington office, said the legislation restricts those who can sell a Purple Heart medal to the medal recipient and his or her survivors. “It allows their family members to be able to make that decision as well if they (the recipient) is deceased,” she said.

Asked if the sale of Purple Heart medals was widespread, Williams said it is “definitely significant. It would surprise you.”

The act includes penalties for violations. “It has penalties for those parties that participate,” Williams said.

Perdue’s office said the proposal has received a good response, both inside and outside the Senate. In a news release Tuesday, the office included remarks from leaders of veterans organizations, each of whom applauded Perdue for addressing the issue.

“The sacrifice and valor represented by the Purple Heart medal should never be cheapened by being treated as if it were some simple commodity that can be bartered,” Doug Middleton, of Roswell, Region IV commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, said. “Recipients of the medal and families of fallen heroes appreciate the stance Senator Perdue has taken to safeguard the significance of our nation’s oldest military decoration.”

The Purple Heart “is our Nation’s symbol of military sacrifice,” Hershel Gober, national commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, said. “When lost Purple Hearts are recovered, MOPH strongly believes that they should be returned to veterans and families at no cost, not sold for profit on the collectors market. We strongly support the Purple Heart Preservation Act and thank Senator Perdue for his leadership on this issue.”

“Regrettably, unscrupulous persons have found a profitable market in the buying and selling of our military’s oldest award, given when a service member is wounded in combat,” Ted Painter, co-director of the National Military and Veterans Alliance, said. “This act will make the buying or selling of these time honored awards illegal and the NMVA is proud to support this legislation.”