The DEA Purple Heart Award

The DEA Purple Heart Award was established on January 5, 1996, to honor those individuals who have been seriously wounded or killed while performing duties in an official capacity. The prestigious award reflects DEA’s recognition of the inherent dangers thousands of men and women face every day while enforcing the drug laws of the United States. Recipients receive a heart-shaped medal with a DEA Special Agent badge embossed on a purple background hanging from a red, white, and blue ribbon.

Those who meet the following criteria are entitled to receive the DEA Purple Heart Award:

  • Individuals seriously injured or killed due to hostile or criminal action during official duties

  • Injuries must require medical treatment or cause death

  • Eligible recipients include active, retired, or deceased employees of the DEA and its predecessor agencies, including the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, or the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control
Wallie Howard Jr.

Wallie Howard Jr.

Police Investigator
October 30, 1990

Purple Heart

Haroon Jan

Afghan Officer, National Interdiction Unit
Date unknown

James A. Juliano

James A. Juliano

Special Agent
May 29, 1974

Purple Heart

Leslie Kenney

Special Agent, Office of Global Enforcement
Date unknown

Purple Heart

Fazludin Khodadad

Afghan Officer, National Interdiction Unit
Date unknown

Gary C. Lawrence

Gary C. Lawrence

Special Agent, Office of Foreign Operations
June 10, 2010

Forrest Leamon

Forrest N. Leamon

Special Agent
October 26, 2009

James C. Lewis

James C. Lewis

Special Agent
November 24, 1974

Jessie J. Lewis

Jessie J. Lewis

Task Force Officer
Date unknown

Purple Heart

Mateo Almonacid Leya

Peruvian National Police Officer, Lima Country Office
November 21, 2019

Ralph B. Lochridge

Ralph B. Lochridge

Agent, Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
July 21, 1971

Terrance P. Loftus

Terrance P. Loftus

Special Agent/Pilot
May 28, 2004