By LISA TANGER
Observer Staff
Feb. 6, 2008

Three Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans were awarded the Purple Heart in front of a packed auditorium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Feb. 1. The Purple Heart is the military’s oldest award, having been established Aug. 7, 1782, by Gen. George Washington. It is awarded in the name of the president of the United States to any member of the armed forces who, while serving after April 1917, has been wounded or killed in an action against an enemy.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Murphy, 34, sustained penetrating head wounds from small-arms fire while on walking patrol in northern Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 13, 2007, according to the Army.

Observer photo by LISA TANGER
Staff Sgt. Jeremy Murphy was injured in Baghdad, Iraq, in Aug. 2007.

“We were in a night operation,” Murphy said. “We were going after some guys when I got hit in the head by a bullet.”

Although he was wearing a helmet at the time, his injuries required he receive a prosthetic skull, according to Capt. Deborah Hood, one of his case managers at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

“He is definitely an exception to the case, as no other soldiers have progressed with a head injury and returned to his level of functioning. I believe his family support and love and faith is what is responsible for this,” Hood said. She characterized his recovery as a miracle.

Sgt. 1st Class John Dail is another case manager in Bethesda. He described Murphy’s family as very dedicated, noting his father was constantly at his bedside while he was in a coma for more than two weeks, and his mother and sister flew in regularly to visit. He said Murphy is known as “the rock star” at the medical center because of his successful recovery.

Murphy said he attended the Purple Heart Ceremony out of duty and a desire to honor his family.

“I’ve never been a big fan of the Purple Heart because it means you just got wounded, you know? My family is here. I wanted them to see it,” Murphy said. He received his medal with his father, mother and sister in attendance.

He said his dreams include a future in the military.

“I would like to go Special Forces. … I love my job. I love what I do. I love the guys I work with. It’s challenging sometimes, but we accomplish a lot, so it makes it worth it,” Murphy said.

Murphy is a member of Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regimen, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. Juan Roldan, 23, received both a Purple Heart medal and a Combat Infantryman Badge, an award given to service members who engage in active ground combat against enemy forces.

Observer photo by LISA TANGER
Sgt. Juan Roldan was injured in Baghdad, Iraq, in Dec. 2006.

Roldan was injured in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 29, 2006, when his patrol vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device, according to the Army. He lost both legs in the blast and received a number of wounds including a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma for more than two weeks, according to his wife, Nancy.

“He doesn’t remember anything,” Nancy said. “He was heavily medicated and went through a lot of surgery. It’s probably good that he doesn’t remember anything.”

She said it took nearly three months for him to start talking again.

Roldan said he missed out on a whole year [2007] of his life. He said the medal is an honor, but brings little comfort to his daily struggles.

“And to come back and just receive a medal that is probably gonna go in a closet? You’re not gonna walk around the street with a Purple Heart attached to you and have people say ‘oh, wow, that’s pretty cool.’ It’s not cool, you know?” Roldan said. “It’s an honor. But, it’s also an honor I wish I didn’t have to go through.”

Roldan’s daughter will be 10 months old this week. He said she gives him hope for the future.

“That’s my inspiration, just looking at my little girl and saying ‘I want to be here in 10 years, I want to be here in 20 years. I don’t want to miss her graduation, her getting married,” Roldan said. “Even though I don’t have my legs now, all I do have is time to get some prosthetics and get on my feet and walk with my daughter and pick her up from school.”

Roldan’s wife, daughter, father, mother and sister attended the ceremony.

Roldan is a member of the 1-26 Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

Pfc. Bradley Buckland, 22, was wounded by sniper fire while on a combat patrol in Balad, Iraq, on Oct. 21, 2007, according to the Army. Buckland’s wife, Jennifer, was by his side during the Purple Heart ceremony. The Bucklands declined an interview.

Observer photo by LISA TANGER
Pfc. Bradley Buckland was injured in Balad, Iraq, in Oct. 2007.

He is a member of the 3/8 Cavalry Alpha Company based out of Fort Hood, Texas.

Maj. Gen. Carla Hawley-Bowland, commander of the North Atlantic Regional Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, presented the three young men with their medals.

“If you look at all the awards that the military gives and that the Army gives, there are two that are recognized by civilians: the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. … We’re very happy to thank them for their great service and defending our nation,” Hawley-Bowland said.

All three soldiers and their families were greeted in a reception line following the ceremony. Purple Heart ceremonies are held once per month at Walter Reed, in addition to private presentations made at hospital bedsides or at times designated convenient for the soldier, according to Patricia Cassimatis, who works in the Walter Reed Public Affairs Office.