The month of August is steeped in American military history, with several significant dates observed across the nation. One is August 7—Purple Heart Day. Its origins date to 1782, when General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit, the forerunner of today’s Purple Heart. The medal, as we know it today, was revived in 1932 to honor those wounded or killed in combat.
One recipient was U.S. Army veteran Tommy Gwynn, credited with receiving 12 Purple Hearts during World War II and the Korean War. He stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, helped hold the line during the Battle of the Bulge, landed at Inchon during the Korean War, and twice escaped enemy captivity.
Born on June 2, 1919, Mr. Gwynn enlisted in the Army in 1941 and was shipped to England in 1943. On June 6, 1944, he waded ashore at Normandy during the Allied invasion. Every year afterward, he celebrated June 6 as his “second birthday,” telling the Moore County News that he observed the date because he had survived.
Mr. Gwynn passed away on April 5, 2026, at the age of 106. A life well lived! See you next month..
