Fourteen Soldier Receive Purple Heart at Walter Reed
Walter Reed Army Medical Center has been in the news lately for the poor conditions in which are soldiers have been enduring, while staying at their facility. However, on July 27, 2007, Walter Reed was in the news for other reasons. Fourteen soldiers received Purple Heart medals in a ceremony that included family, friends, servicemen and women, and Walter Reed medical staff. The audience totaled nearly 250 attendees.
The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers who were wounded during times of war by enemy weapons; it is one of the most honored awards earned by any military personnel.
It was first awarded in 1932 and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor (the official Purple Heart registry) is located in Newburgh, New York.
The fourteen soldiers were presented the medal on stage in front of the attendees. Army Brig. General Michael S. Tucker and Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey S. Hartless presented each soldier their medals.
Here is a list of the soldiers that received Purple Heart medals.
Staff Sgt. Scott Gentry who is 31 years old, was wounded when his vehicle was hit by an IED. He is from Spokane, Washington.
Sgt. Andre Marcus Knight is 29 years old. His platoon was struck by a 400-pound bomb, two of his platoon members died. He is from Petersburg, Virginia.
Sgt. Christopher Lynch is 21 years old. He was injured when a suicide bomber attacked his vehicle while he was on patrol in Iraq. He is from Whetland, California.
Sgt. Luis Martinez-Ramirez is 38 years old. An explosion wounded him while he was on patrol in Baghdad. He is from Vega Alta, Puerto Rico.
Sgt. Luis Rivera-Valentin is 30 years old and was wounded when an explosion struck while he was on clearance patrol in Baghdad. He is from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
Spc. Terence Cook, is age 21 years old and from Clarksville, Md. An explosive device hit his vehicle.
Spc. Justin S. Davis is 27 years old and from Baton Rouge, La. He was shot while on duty guarding a schoolhouse in Iraq.
Spc. Daniel Gomez is 27 years old and from Midway City, California. He was injured when hit by a sniper.
Spc. Amando Hamid is 20 years old and from New York, N.Y. He was wounded when a 350-pound bomb exploded.
Spc. Anthony Labelle is 22 years old and from Worchester, Mass. He was wounded by an IED blast while patrolling Tal Afar, Iraq.
Spc. Joshua K. Lutz is 24 years old and from Palm Harbor, Fla. He was wounded by an IED blast while patrolling Iraq.
Spc. Jason Pinney is 24 years old and from Decatur, Indiana. He was shot near Afghanistan.
Pfc. Ian J. Gillis is 20 years old and from Santa Rosa, Calif. An IED explosion wounded him while he was on his way to help his fellow soldiers.
Pfc. Ronnie Hodges is 23 years old and from Jacksonville, N.C. He was wounded by an IED blast.