FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas --- The commander of Brooke Army Medical Center and Great Plains Regional Medical Command honored six Warriors in Transition Aug. 26 during a Purple Heart ceremony in BAMC's fourth floor auditorium.
Along with the six combat heroes, Brig. Gen. James Gilman praised the BAMC medical staff for their continued dedication to the care and recovery of Warriors in Transition.
"Your support of our young men and women willing to go in harm's way is important to us and to them (warriors) for their recovery," said Gilman.
More than 50 Family members, comrades and medical staff attended the ceremony.
Medal recipient Spc. Nicholas Hinton expressed his gratitude to "the BAMC staff for the greatest care, Warrior in Transition leadership, my parents, and people in my platoon who rescued me and patched me up and helped with my recovery," he said.
The oldest military decoration in the world, the Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy.
Purple Heart recipients
Sgt. Nathan Rolens was injured July 8 in Iraq. While on an escort mission, a 50-pound pressure plate improvised explosive device was detonated, resulting in Rolens' combat injuries. Rolens is an infantryman/Stryker commander assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
Hinton was injured Jan. 8 in Iraq. While on a mounted patrol, Hinton's vehicle encountered an IED resulting in his combat injuries. Hinton is an infantryman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry.
Spc. Andrew Howard was injured April 29 in Iraq. Howard was responding to a distress call from another vehicle when his vehicle was struck by an IED resulting in his combat injuries. Howard is an infantryman assigned to B Co., 1st Bn., 14th Inf., 2nd Bde. Combat Team.
Spc. Jeremy Hubatka was injured March 29 in Iraq. Hubatka was on patrol when his vehicle was struck by an IED resulting in his combat injuries. Hubatka is an infantryman assigned to A Co., 1st Bn., 30th Inf. Regiment, 2nd Stryker Cav. Regiment.
Hubatka also received the Combat Infantryman Badge, which recognizes Soldiers who engage the enemy or are engaged by the enemy during a combat operation.
Spc. Nicholas Lingua was injured May 25 in Iraq. While on mounted patrol, Lingua's vehicle drove over a pressure plate mine resulting in his combat injuries. Lingua is an infantryman assigned to the 2nd Bn., 327th Inf., 1/101st Airborne.
Spc. Joshua Reed was injured June 1 in Afghanistan. During a patrol, Reed's squad was ambushed and he was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade, resulting in his combat injuries. Reed is an infantryman assigned to D Co., 1st Bn., 506th Inf., 101st Airborne Div.
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