- Issued by
- United States Department of War, American, 1789 - 1947
- Received by
- Warren, John Earl Jr., American, 1946 - 1969
- Signed by
- Resor, Stanley R., American, 1917 - 2012
- Wickham, Kenneth G., American, 1913 - 2004
- Date
- March 17 1969
- Medium
- ink on paper
- Dimensions
- H x W: 10 × 12 in. (25.4 × 30.5 cm)
- Caption
- 1st Lt. John Earl Warren Jr. served in C Company, 2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 22nd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions on January 14, 1969, in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam. Warren led his platoon on a patrol through a rubber plantation. After coming under heavy enemy fire, he led several of his men toward the fire. An enemy grenade landed in the midst of his team, just as Warren was preparing to throw his own. He fell on the enemy grenade and saved three lives.
- Description
- The Purple Heart citation issued for First Lieutenant John E. Warren, Jr. The citation is on white paper with black printed type. The top has a color image of the Purple Heart with its' purple and white ribbon. In large block print below the image, the text reads [THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA]. In smaller type, the text continues, [TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING: / THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT / THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / HAS AWARDED THE]. Below, in larger type again, [THE PURPLE HEART / ESTABLISHED BY GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON / AT NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, AUGUST 7, 1782 / TO]. In the center lists Warren's name, the reason he was awarded the medal, and the date. Underneath, in larger print, [FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED / IN ACTION]. On the bottom of the citation are the signatures of [Kenneth G. Wickham / MAJOR GENERAL, USA / THE ADJUTANT GENERAL] on the left, and [Stanley R. Resor / SECRETARY OF THE ARMY] on the right. In the center is the seal of the Department the Army Seal. In the center is the seal of the Department the Army in gold. The stamp reads, in a circle around the central emblem, [UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / WAR OFFICE. In the center, the banner above the flags and swords state, [THIS WILL DEFEND], and below, [MDCCLCCVIII]. Underneath in smaller type is a maker’s mark, [BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING, LITHG.] An image of a star is in all four corners of the citation. The back of the document is blank.
- Place made
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Awards, Medals, and Insignia
- Type
- medals
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gloria Warren-Baskin, sister of Lt. John E. Warren, Jr.
- Object number
- 2017.112.4.2
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




