Purple Hearts

Men Wounded in Battle to Receive a Decoration

A number of Seneca ex-service men are eligible to a new military decoration, or, rather an old decoration that is being revived. It is known as the Order of the Purple Heart and is awarded by the war department to men who were wounded in action. The Purple Heart medal has a bronze edge with raised, purple background. The head is of bronze while the shield is composed of red bars and stars. The reverse side is all bronze carrying the engraved name of the recipient. An oak leaf cluster is attached to the medal for each wound received. During the revolutionary war George Washington designed and issued the Purple Heart as his tribute to gallantry. Records show but three received the honor during the Revolution. Then the decoration was forgotten and not revived until President Hoover recommended its use in honor of the two-hundredth anniversary of Washington’s birth. The War Department is distributing the medals but so far as known none has been received in this community. Charles R. Clinkenbeard, Lincoln, formerly of Wetmore received the award with three clusters. He was gassed and twice wounded.

from the Courier Tribune dated 6 June 1932

Since no list of Purple Hearts recipients exists, the Seneca and Sabetha newspapers along with inquiries into the community are being used to create a list of recipients of this award. (This is a work in progress. Newspapers thru 1946 have been searched. However, editions since 1946 are yet to be searched.) Below are the names of those that have been identified to date: