The planners didn't even have a good idea of how long the war was going to last. The 'Home by Christmas' optimism after D-day was knocked into a cocked hat in the Ardennes. Then there was the prospect of invading the Home Islands of Japan. Planners feared the fighting might last until at least 1947. Among all the "beans and bullets" needed for the invasion they ordered Purple Hearts. They expected so many casualties that 75 years later, Purple Hearts made for an invasion of Japan are still being awarded