Fuente : United States Army
http://www.goarmy.com/

Shinseki pins Purple Hearts on six soldiers

/noticias.info/ WASHINGTON (Army News Service, April 9, 2003) -- In a series of bedside visits April 5, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki presented six Purple Hearts to soldiers wounded during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"This is a medal that no soldier seeks or wishes for," Shinseki told the soldiers' family members during each bedside presentation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Despite being told they did not have to get out of their bed, the soldiers, who were able, stood at attention during the presentation. Mothers, fathers, wives and other family members wiped tears from their eyes as the general pinned the medals.


Shinseki presented Purple Hearts to:


Staff Sgt. Jamie A. Villafane, 30th Infantry Battalion 1st Headquarters and Headquarters Company Mechanized, Ft. Benning, Ga.


Cpl. Damien E. Luten, 507th OD Company Maintenance Patriot, Fort Bliss, Texas


Staff Sgt. Tarik Jackson, 507th OD Company Maintenance Patriot, Fort Bliss, Texas


Spc. Manual Avila, 75th infantry Battalion 2nd Company A Ranger, Fort Lewis, Wash.


Sgt. Charles Horgan 30th Infantry Battalion1st Headquarters and Headquarters Company Mechanized,, Fort Benning, Ga.


Spc. Scott Acosta, 7th Infantry Battalion 3rd Company C, Ft. Stewart, Ga.


Nine OIF soldiers have been awarded Purple Hearts at Walter Reed since Mar. 28 when the first casualties began arriving from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

Gen. George Washington established the Purple Heart in 1772. It was originally awarded for military merit, but during World War II it became an award for service members wounded in combat and posthumously presented to those who died from combat wounds.

Walter Reed has treated 34 battle casualties since Mar. 28. All were transferred from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. notas_de_prensa_archivo