Story highlights "I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier," Trump said

Purple Hearts are awarded to service members who suffer wounds in combat

Ashburn, Virginia (CNN) A military veteran supporting Donald Trump gifted the Republican nominee his Purple Heart Tuesday, prompting Trump to say he "always wanted to get the Purple Heart" and this was "much easier" than serving in combat.

Purple Hearts are awarded to service members who suffer wounds in combat.

"Something very nice just happened to me. A man came up to me and handed me his Purple Heart," Trump told supporters at a campaign event here. "I said to him, 'Is that like the real one or is that a copy?' And he said, 'That's my real Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you.'"

Trump received the veteran, identified by his campaign as retired Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman, on stage at the start of the rally to receive the decoration. The campaign didn't specify which branch Dorfman served in.

"I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier," Trump said.

Read More