FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Four Texas Army National Guard Soldiers recovering at Brooke
Army Medical Center received both state and federal Purple Heart medals during
ceremonies at the Warrior and Family Support Center’s Purple Heart Garden on
Fort Sam Houston.
During the first ceremony Sept. 24, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
presented the Texas Purple Heart to Staff Sgt.
Guadalupe Chapa, combat engineer; Sgt. Michael Cantu, infantryman; Spc.
James Burkett, wheeled vehicle mechanic; and Spc. Jose Romo, indirect fire
infantryman.
All are with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry Regiment,
Texas Army National Guard. The Soldiers suffered various injuries after the
vehicle they were riding in struck an improvised explosive device in the Sinai
Peninsula Sept. 3.
The Texas governor praised the Soldiers for their dedication
and courage.
“The truth is not all Americans have the level of courage
that you have. You have the guts, the heart and the courage to go to foreign
lands to ensure freedom there, so we can ensure freedom back home,” Abbott
said.
“As governor, I have a lot of different tasks to do, but no
task is as important or as rewarding as being able to recognize and honor the
men and women who serve in our uniform,” he said. “I wanted to be here today to
let you know how grateful the people of this state are for you, for your
service and for our ability to recognize you today with the Texas Purple Heart
award.”
The Texas Purple Heart is the third highest military
decoration that can be awarded to a member of the Texas military forces after
the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor and the Texas Medal of Valor. It is
awarded to any member of the Texas military forces who was inducted into
federal service after Sept. 11, 2001, and meets the criteria for the award of
the federal Purple Heart.
The Soldiers were awarded the federal Purple Heart from Maj. Gen. William L. Smith,
Army assistant adjutant general and commander of the Texas Army National Guard Sept. 30.
Smith said he was very proud to present the Purple Heart to
the four Texas Soldiers.
During the ceremony, the narrator read the history of the
Purple Heart medal, saying it was the “first American award made available to
the common Soldier.”
The general said it struck him that the words “common
Soldier” were used.
“I don’t think there is such a thing as a common Soldier,”
Smith said. “I think all of our Soldiers are very uncommon in the fact that
they volunteered for service, and most of them volunteered for service as we
are in a time of war, which is a real testament to what our people are and it
makes me proud to be here in front of them.”
Because the Soldiers served together in the same unit and
were wounded together, they all feel a strong bond with one another.
“We were close this whole deployment and this just made us a
whole lot closer,” Cantu said. “We’re not blood related, but we’re all brothers
and this just makes us even closer.”
“It’s hard to explain,” Chapa said. “It’s like playing
sports; when your team is together, your team is tight, it’s inseparable. It’s
a strong bond that can’t be broken, no matter what.”