WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Reacher season 3, episodes 1-3.

The first episode of Reacher season 3 references that Reacher is a highly decorated retired Army veteran with several military awards, including a Purple Heart. Reacher takes on a new mission as an undercover informant for the DEA in Reacher season 3, episodes 1-3, which involves him infiltrating prominent Main business owner Zachary Beck’s inner circle. Reacher is interviewed by Beck, his bodyguard Paulie Van Hoven, and his head of security, Chapman Duke.

During Reacher season 3, episode 1, Beck grills Reacher after running his fingerprints, realizing there is not much accessible information on his newest potential employee. Even though Reacher “saved” Zachary’s son, Richard, Beck wants to cover all his bases, including Reacher’s military past, which has been discussed in previous Reacher seasons as well. We also learn that Paulie has a military background after Reacher correctly predicted that he failed the OCS exam, explaining his dislike for Army officers.

The Story Behind Reacher’s Purple Heart Explained

Reacher Saved 12 Soldiers After A Marines Barracks Bombing

The story of how Reacher earned his Purple Heart from the U.S. Army was explained in Reacher season 1. In the premiere episode of Reacher season 1, Roscoe reads Finlay Reacher’s military record, which ends with a “Purple Heart, earned for wounds sustained in the bombing of a Marines barracks in Kandahar.” This backstory was slightly different in the Jack Reacher books, as the Marines barracks were located in Beruit instead of Kandahar.

In the Reacher season 1 premiere episode, Finlay grabs Reacher’s military record from Roscoe and continues reading, “Major Reacher ran into the inferno, carrying soldiers out two at a time. Witnesses report six separate trips, confirming 12 were saved. Major Reacher suffered severe smoke inhalation but returned to active duty 32 hours late despite having shrapnel remains of a jawbone removed from his abdomen.” The wounds described here are what earned Reacher his Purple Heart, and likely one of his two Silver Stars.

Which Other Awards & Medals Reacher Was Awarded In The Military

2 Silver Stars, A Defense Superior Service Medal, A Legion of Merit & More

Reacher has earned a wide variety of military awards, most notably the Purple Heart, two Silver Stars, a Defense Superior Service Medal, and a Legion of Merit. He has also been awarded a Soldier’s Medal, a Bronze Star, a National Defense Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, and more.

Amazon’s Reacher series also changed the reason why Reacher was discharged from the U.S. Army after being active in the military from 1990 to 1997. In the books, Reacher became disenfranchised by the U.S. military and talked back to an LT Colonel. In the series, Reacher was looking for more personal freedom in life. Reacher season 2 also revealed that the 110th Special Investigations Unit was disbanded and dismissed after going against a superior officer’s order.