1st US soldiers receive Purple Hearts in connection with the Jan. 8 Iranian ballistic missile attack on Al-Asad in Iraq. These US troops were diagnosed with TBI. Jennifer Griffin, DVIDS report:
7 Jan At approximately 5:30 p.m. (EST) Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq. It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil. …Jonathan HoffmanDepartment of Defense
1st Lt. Abigail Holstein salutes Col. Greg Fix, brigade commander for the 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, after being presented with the Purple Heart medal for her injuries sustained during the theater ballistic missile attacks at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on January 8, 2020. To the left and right of her stands Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Sudheimer and Lt. Col. Kyle Liudahl, her battalion command team with 2-147th Assault Helicopter Battalion. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette)Members of Delta Company, 82nd Aviation Regiment stand in formation on May 3, 2020, (wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing standards for COVID-19 prevention) to recognize their fellow service members as they were presented the Purple Heart medal for their injuries sustained during the theater ballistic missile attacks at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on January 8, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette)
Purple Heart medals presented to Soldiers of the 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade
Maj. Alan Johnson was presented the Purple Heart on May 2, 2020, for his injuries sustained during the theater ballistic missile attacks at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on January 8, 2020. Of the 27 Soldiers to receive Purple Hearts from the January attacks, Maj. Johnson is one of the few 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade recipients to return to duty after receiving initial treatment for his injuries and thus, received the Purple Heart medal in-theater. He is an Aeromedical Physician’s Assistant with Headquarters Support Company, 834th Aviation Support Battalion. He serves in the Minnesota National Guard and is from Duluth, Minnesota. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Morgan Maidl)1st Lt. Abigail Holstein was presented the Purple Heart on May 3, 2020, for her injuries sustained during the theater ballistic missile attacks at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on January 8, 2020. Of the 27 Soldiers to receive Purple Hearts from the January attacks, 1st Lt. Holstein is one of the few 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade recipients to return to duty after receiving initial treatment for her injuries and thus, received the Purple Heart medal in-theater. She serves as an enroute critical care nurse with Charlie Company, 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette)Spc. Jose Ortiz was presented the Purple Heart on May 3, 2020, for his injuries sustained during the theater ballistic missile attacks at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on January 8, 2020. Of the 27 Soldiers to receive Purple Hearts from the January attacks, Spc. Ortiz is one of the few 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade recipients to return to duty after receiving initial treatment for his injuries and thus, received the Purple Heart medal in-theater. He serves as a Grey Eagle maintainer with Delta Company, 82nd Aviation Regiment out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette)Spc. Robert Jones is presented the Purple Heart medal by 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade Commander, Col. Greg Fix, on May 3, 2020, for his injuries sustained during the theater ballistic missile attacks at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on January 8, 2020. Spc. Jones serves as a combat medic with Delta Company, 82nd Aviation Regiment out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette)Sgt. Ryan Nolan was presented the Purple Heart on May 3, 2020, for his injuries sustained during the theater ballistic missile attacks at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on January 8, 2020. Of the 27 Soldiers to receive Purple Hearts from the January attacks, Sgt. Nolan is one of the few 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade recipients to return to duty after receiving initial treatment for his injuries and thus, received the Purple Heart medal in-theater. He serves as a Flight Operations Non-commissioned officer with Delta Company, 82nd Aviation Regiment out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette)
