Fort Bliss Monitor

Oldest decoration presented
National Guard Soldiers receive Purple Heart

WILSON RIVERA
Monitor Staff

WILSON A. RIVERA

American Purple Heart Medal recipient Spc. Michael J. Sarro sits idly by as the Assistant Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard Brig. Gen. Alan Fry pins on the Purple Heart Medal to his Physical Fitness Uniform purchased for the ceremony by local Veteran motorcycle clubs.

Four National Guard Soldiers who were wounded in combat each received a Purple Heart in a ceremony July 28 at the Fort Bliss Museum and Study Center.

“The American Purple Heart military decoration is the oldest award in present use. It is the only award made available to the common Soldier,” said 647th Area Support Group Commander Col. Roger J. Heger during the ceremony. “The definition of a hero is ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”

One of the recipients of the Purple Heart award was Sgt. Thomas G. Kreuger, California National Guard.
On April 5, 2005, while patrolling in a Humvee in southern Baghdad, Iraq, a civilian vehicle, armed with an improvised explosive device, blew up. The blast killed one Soldier and wounded three others, including Kreuger.
Kreuger was treated at the scene by a unit combat lifesaver before being airlifted to the Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. Kreuger was eventually transported to William Beaumont Army Medical Center here for reconstructive surgery from the explosion.

“The care and support I received at Fort Bliss was incredible. I will always credit the Soldiers and civilians at Bliss and William Beaumont for my quick and positive recovery,” said Kreuger.

Another Soldier who was awarded the Purple Heart was Sgt. Michael Pattison, Pennsylvania National Guard.
Pattison received the award because of injuries he sustained while patrolling the rooftop of the Mayor’s building in Bayji, Iraq. The building was being patrolled due to intelligence information his unit had received of a possible attack to the building. Pattison, who heard sporadic gunfire during his patrol, was on the lookout for insurgents when a sniper round struck him in the face.

“I never lost consciousness and I immediately took a knee,” he said. “I yelled ‘help me, help me, I’m hit, I’m hit!’”

The Soldier next to Pattison rendered immediate medical assistance to try to stop the bleeding. The Soldier also used a pressure bandage and called for a medic, according to Pattison. Once the medic arrived, he stopped the bleeding and helped Pattison walk out of the building and into the Humvee while their unit performed suppressive fire. Pattison was later airlifted outside the area for further treatment.

“This experience has made me a better person. I loved it. I loved being there, and I love serving my country,” said Pattison. “I didn’t go to war to win medals and definitely didn’t want to come home this way, but as a result of it, I was pushed to my limits over there and because of it, I’m a stronger person.”

The other two Soldiers who received the Purple Heart award were Specialists John Ashenfelder and Michael Sarro, both of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

On May 14, 2005, Ashenfelder and Sarro were conducting a combat patrol in Baghdad when their vehicle was struck by two anti-tank mines. The two also experienced small arms fire from enemy insurgents. The explosion from the mine severely wounded Ashenfelder. Sarro responded to the attack by sending a radio communication to direct his unit’s counter-fire before being struck by small-arms fire. Sarro continued to lead his unit for approximately 20 minutes until the insurgents had been suppressed.

“These common Soldiers Sgt. Kreuger, Sgt. Pattison, Spc. Ashen-felder, and Spc. Sarro have done some extraordinary things,” Heger said.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 4, 2005

	Oldest decoration presented National Guard Soldiers receive Purple Heart WILSON RIVERA Monitor Staff WILSON A. RIVERA American Purple Heart Medal recipient Spc. Michael J. Sarro sits idly by as the Assistant Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard Brig. Gen. Alan Fry pins on the Purple Heart Medal to his Physical Fitness Uniform purchased for the ceremony by local Veteran motorcycle clubs. Four National Guard Soldiers who were wounded in combat each received a Purple Heart in a ceremony July 28 at the Fort Bliss Museum and Study Center. “The American Purple Heart military decoration is the oldest award in present use. It is the only award made available to the common Soldier,” said 647th Area Support Group Commander Col. Roger J. Heger during the ceremony. “The definition of a hero is ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” One of the recipients of the Purple Heart award was Sgt. Thomas G. Kreuger, California National Guard. On April 5, 2005, while patrolling in a Humvee in southern Baghdad, Iraq, a civilian vehicle, armed with an improvised explosive device, blew up. The blast killed one Soldier and wounded three others, including Kreuger. Kreuger was treated at the scene by a unit combat lifesaver before being airlifted to the Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. Kreuger was eventually transported to William Beaumont Army Medical Center here for reconstructive surgery from the explosion. “The care and support I received at Fort Bliss was incredible. I will always credit the Soldiers and civilians at Bliss and William Beaumont for my quick and positive recovery,” said Kreuger. Another Soldier who was awarded the Purple Heart was Sgt. Michael Pattison, Pennsylvania National Guard. Pattison received the award because of injuries he sustained while patrolling the rooftop of the Mayor’s building in Bayji, Iraq. The building was being patrolled due to intelligence information his unit had received of a possible attack to the building. Pattison, who heard sporadic gunfire during his patrol, was on the lookout for insurgents when a sniper round struck him in the face. “I never lost consciousness and I immediately took a knee,” he said. “I yelled ‘help me, help me, I’m hit, I’m hit!’” The Soldier next to Pattison rendered immediate medical assistance to try to stop the bleeding. The Soldier also used a pressure bandage and called for a medic, according to Pattison. Once the medic arrived, he stopped the bleeding and helped Pattison walk out of the building and into the Humvee while their unit performed suppressive fire. Pattison was later airlifted outside the area for further treatment. “This experience has made me a better person. I loved it. I loved being there, and I love serving my country,” said Pattison. “I didn’t go to war to win medals and definitely didn’t want to come home this way, but as a result of it, I was pushed to my limits over there and because of it, I’m a stronger person.” The other two Soldiers who received the Purple Heart award were Specialists John Ashenfelder and Michael Sarro, both of the Pennsylvania National Guard. On May 14, 2005, Ashenfelder and Sarro were conducting a combat patrol in Baghdad when their vehicle was struck by two anti-tank mines. The two also experienced small arms fire from enemy insurgents. The explosion from the mine severely wounded Ashenfelder. Sarro responded to the attack by sending a radio communication to direct his unit’s counter-fire before being struck by small-arms fire. Sarro continued to lead his unit for approximately 20 minutes until the insurgents had been suppressed. “These common Soldiers Sgt. Kreuger, Sgt. Pattison, Spc. Ashen-felder, and Spc. Sarro have done some extraordinary things,” Heger said.