FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Family, friends and Brooke Army Medical Center medical staff gathered for a Purple Heart Ceremony April 22 at the BAMC fourth floor auditorium to honor nine Warriors who were injured in Iraq.
According to Brig. Gen. James Gilman, commander of Brooke Army Medical Center and Great Plains Regional Medical Command, taking care of healing and rehabilitating Warriors in Transition is only part of what the BAMC medical and civilian staff does for its Warriors. Gilman said the other half of a Warrior\'s care is being a part of a significant event in their lives.
"It's gratifying as a commander and the staff to be a part of the Purple Heart Ceremony," Gilman said. "Taking care of warriors is more than a job; it's being a part of this significant event."
The Purple Heart is an American decoration and the oldest military decoration in the world 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.
The honorees were:
Lt. Col. Raymond Rivas, a civil affairs officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 13th Corps Support Command, was injured Oct. 12, 2006, by incoming mortars and an indirect fire hit while working on Tallil, Forward Operating Base. He sustained a fractured knee and other combat injuries.
Sgt. Daniel Porter, an infantryman assigned to Headquarters and Head-quarters Co., 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, was injured March 27. While on mounted patrol, his vehicle was hit by an explosively formed projectile, resulting in his combat injuries.
Sgt. Cyrus Thompson, a heavy-wheeled transport operator with the 418th Transportation Co., was injured Feb. 10. While in a convoy moving toward Baghdad International, his 15-ton vehicle drove over an antitank mine, resulting in a back injury, hearing loss and other combat injuries.
Spc. David Corley, an infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry, 1st Armored Division, was injured Jan. 3. A native of Lufkin, Texas, Corley was on a company mission with his platoon when he received direct enemy fire resulting in his combat injuries. Corley also received the combat infantryman badge. Considered a badge of honor, the CIB is presented to Soldiers who have participated in active ground combat while assigned as a member of an infantry or Special Forces unit, brigade or smaller size, during any period after December 1941.
Spc. Adrian Delacruz, an infantryman assigned to B Co., 1st Bn., 21st Inf., was injured Feb. 8. A native of El Paso, Texas, Delacruz was on mounted patrol when his vehicle was struck by an IED resulting in a broken jaw, fractured back and broken ankle. Delacruz also received a CIB. Spc.
Sean Moore, an infantryman assigned to B Company, 1st Bn., 14th Inf., 2nd Brig. Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div., was injured March 30. While performing his duties as a Stryker driver, his vehicle encountered an IED resulting in his combat injuries.
Pfc. Thomas Caudill, a tanker assigned to Grim Troop, 2nd Bn., 3rd Armor Cavalry Regiment, was injured Feb. 10. While driving on patrol, Caudill's vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device resulting in loss of consciousness, concussion and nerve damage.
Pfc. Cody Cook, a power generation equipment repairer, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Maintenance Platoon, was injured March 14. A native of Amarillo, Texas, Cook was performing duties at the border checkpoint when an IED exploded, resulting in burns and other combat injuries.
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