Skip to main content

Search

Donate

Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Hours and Admission
    • Tips and Guidelines
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Accessibility
    • Group Visits
    • Dining
    • Museum Stores
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current Exhibitions
      • Upcoming
      • Past Exhibitions
      • Online Exhibitions
    • Today's Events
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX Theaters
  • Explore
    • Art & Design
    • History & Culture
    • Science & Nature
    • Collections
      • Open Access
      • Smithsonian Snapshot
    • Blogs
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile Apps
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Freer and Sackler Archives
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
  • Learn
    • For Kids and Teens
    • For Educators
      • Resources
      • Field Trips
      • Professional Development
      • Events
    • Youth Programs
    • Fellowships and Internships
  • Join Us
    • Volunteer
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Visitor Information Specialist
      • Docent Programs
    • Citizen Science
    • Work with Us
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Working Here
        • Employee Benefits
        • Job Opportunities
        • How to Apply
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • Affiliations
      • Global Partners
  • Support
    • About Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Your Membership
    • Make a Gift
  • About
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Research Centers
    • Cultural Centers
    • Education
    • Our Organization
      • Leadership
        • Secretary Bunch
        • Advancement
        • Communications
        • Administration
        • Education
        • Museums and Culture
        • Science and Research
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Contact
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Records Request Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Equal Employment Office
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Special Emphasis Program
        • Supplier Diversity Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Policies and Procedures
          • Additional Resources
          • Goals and Accomplishments
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
        • One Smithsonian
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Purple Heart medal awarded posthumously to Tuskegee Airman 2d Lt. James McCullin

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Addthis Share Tools

    • Print

Object Details

Issued by
United States Armed Forces, American, founded 1775
Received by
Second Lieutenant James L. McCullin, American, 1919 - 1943
Subject of
Tuskegee Airmen, 1941 - 1946
99th Pursuit Squadron, American, 1941 - 1949
Description
A Purple Heart medal and case awarded posthumously to Tuskegee Airmen 2 Lt. James McCullin.
A Purple Heart medal. The medal is purple and heart-shaped with a gold border. There is a raised profile of George Washington in the center of the medal. At the top of the medal there is a small white shield with three red stars above two red horizontal lines. On either side of the shield is a green vine with leaves. There is a purple ribbon with white border attached to the medal at the top. On the back of the medal is the inscription: [FOR / MILITARY / MERIT/ JAMES L. / MCCULLIN]. The dedication is in raised gold letters and the name is etched into the medal.
A case for a Purple Heart. The outside of the case is dark-colored with gold-colored designs along edges. The top of the case also has gold-colored designs creating two squares. The case opens to a 90 degree angle from hinges on the back short edge. In center of the top of the case gold letters read: [PURPLE HEART]. The interior of the case is lined with yellow fabric. The fabric in the top part of the case looks like satin and the bottom part of the case the fabric looks like velvet.
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the McCullin Family, in memory of Second Lieutenant James L. McCullin
after 1943
Object number
2013.52.3ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Type
cases (containers)
medals
Medium
cardboard , paper, metal and ribbon
Dimensions
H x W (Medal): 3 × 1 3/8 × 3/16 in. (7.6 × 3.5 × 0.5 cm)
H x W x D (Closed): 1 x 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (2.5 x 8.9 x 16.5 cm)
H x W x D (Open): 7 x 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (17.8 x 8.9 x 16.5 cm)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Awards and Medals
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Topic
African American
Military
Tuskegee Airmen
World War II
Record ID
nmaahc_2013.52.3ab
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50b99ef9d-6b1d-4f6b-8154-036ca7a3874e
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Smithsonian 175
  • Contact Us
  • Press Room
  • Human Resources
  • Host Your Event
  • Access Smithsonian
  • EEO & Supplier Diversity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Email signup form

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
Back to Top