Wounded in action

Wounded in action (WIA) describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight.[1]

For US military members, becoming WIA in combat generally results in subsequent conferral of the Purple Heart, because the purpose of the medal- itself one of the highest awards officially given by the American government, military or civil- is to recognize those killed, incapacitated, or wounded in battle.