Photograph of a U.S. Civil War Veteran wearing the Purple Heart

[Championhilz]

When the Purple Heart was reauthorized in 1932, the award was made retroactive for an living U.S. veteran that had been wounded in battle. There were still a number of Union veterans alive in 1932, and over the next few years a number of them that had been wounded did indeed apply for and receive the Purple Heart. I recently picked up this press photo from 1934 of N. Benton Yackey proudly wearing his GAR medal and his purple heart. Yackey served in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (U.S.) and was wounded in a skirmish near Memphis, Missouri, in August 1862.






I also found a copy of the same image used in the SEATTLE DAILY TIMES, July 22, 1934:




Here is a picture of Yackey's grave:

[ScottCross]

Re: Photograph of a U.S. Civil War Veteran wearing the Purple Heart

You don't see that very often. I see they blacked out the background for use in the press.

[tsgalloway]

Re: Photograph of a U.S. Civil War Veteran wearing the Purple Heart

Thanks for sharing. Very neat.