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Fort Bliss awards medals to 13 'heroes'
http://www.elpasotimes.com/stories/borderland/20030703-132016.shtml The ground rattled and hearts burst with pride Wednesday as 75 mm howitzers thunderously declared Fort Bliss' commemoration of the birth of the United States with a 50-gun salute.
The Army post also honored 13 of its soldiers who distinguished themselves in action in Iraq.
"For 228 years, American soldiers have answered the call to free the oppressed and light the path to freedom," said Gen. Larry R. Ellis, Forces Command's commanding general, before an audience of about 300 at Fort Bliss' annual Fourth of July celebration at Memorial Circle.
"Every generation has its heroes, and this one is no different," Ellis said. "These men and women are soldiers who set aside their personal safety. They risked their lives and suffered much to save Iraqi citizens ... (and) their heroism demands our respect and reminds us of our soldiers who are still overseas."
Under a blazing July sun, the 13 soldiers -- nine members of the 507th Maintenance Company and four members of the 76th Military Police Battalion -- stood at attention as, one by one, they received some of the nation's most prestigious awards for their actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The soldiers who fought to the last bullet and risked their lives to protect comrades were awarded Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts and Prisoner of War medals. Pfc. Patrick Miller, of the 507th, received the Silver Star Medal, the nation's fourth-highest award for bravery.
According to the military, the Silver Star is awarded to a soldier who is "cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force."
The maintenance company, which suffered some of the heaviest losses of any unit in Iraq, was traveling toward Baghdad in a convoy when the soldiers were ambushed March 23 near Nasiriyah. Nine soldiers were killed, six were taken prisoner and four were wounded.
Fort Bliss officials said Miller was in the rear of the convoy and manually fed rounds into the chamber of his weapon to protect two fellow soldiers. When captured, Miller, who had radio frequencies written inside his helmet, told his Iraqi captors that the highly sensitive numbers were the prices for water pumps.
Spc. Shoshana Johnson, who was shot in the ankle, was steadied by Ellis as he presented her awards -- the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal. Her father, Claude Johnson, said he was happy to see his daughter recognized.
"I'm not just proud of Shona, I'm proud of everybody," he said. "These guys did tremendous things. Somehow, you feel that it is not fair that everybody's not getting the same thing. There're (soldiers still in Iraq) risking their lives as well."
Spc. Edgar Hernandez, who received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal, proudly presented his awards to his new wife and his family, who arrived Tuesday afternoon from Alton, Texas, for the ceremony.
"I think all of the soldiers deserved the recognition because they made such large sacrifices," said Hernandez's father, Jose, who celebrates his birthday July 4.
"It's not only my day of birth but the birth of the United States," he said. "We thank God for that day because it is a great day for all of the nation."
Soldiers honored
The 507th Maintenance Company was traveling toward Baghdad in a convoy on March 23 when the soldiers were ambushed near Nasiriyah. Nine soldiers were killed, six were taken prisoner and four were wounded. These soldiers were honored for their actions in combat:
Spc. Shoshana Johnson, 30, of El Paso received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal.
Pfc. Patrick Miller, 23, of Wichita, Kan., received the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal.
Sgt. Matthew Rose, 37, of Salem, Ore., received the Bronze Star with Valor Device.
Sgt. James Riley, 31, of Pennsauken, N.J., received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal.
Sgt. Curtis Campbell, 27, of Brooklyn, N.Y., received the Bronze Star.
Spc. Joseph Hudson, 23, of Alamogordo received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal.
Spc. Edgar Hernandez, 22, of Mission, Texas, received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal.
Spc. James Grubb, 21, of Manchester, Ky., received the Bronze Star.
Cpl. Francis Carista, 21, of Rahway, N.J., received the Purple Heart.
June 4, two soldiers from the 76th Military Police Battalion came under fire and received shrapnel wounds while in a Humvee on a routine patrol mission in support of the 4th Infantry Division north of Baghdad.
Pfc. Candice May, 21, of Winter Haven, Fla., received the Purple Heart.
Spc. Alan Raymond Hill, 20, of Dunseith, N.D., received the Purple Heart.
June 5, soldiers from the 76th Military Police Battalion came under fire and two soldiers received shrapnel wounds defending a water plant in Balad, Iraq.
Pfc. Jeremy Bristol, 21, of McKinney, Texas, received the Purple Heart.
Spc. Pedro Rodriguez, 22, of El Paso received the Purple Heart.
Good for them.