Photo By Maj. Matt Murphy | Purple Heart recipients Pfc. Gino Duran, Spc. Antonio Medrano, and Spc. Leif Skoog...... read more read more
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PHOENIX - A Black Hawk helicopter ride does not scratch the surface for honoring three Arizona Army National Guard Soldiers receiving Purple Hearts at a ceremony held June 7, at Camp Navajo near Flagstaff. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action.
Spc. Antonio Medrano, 22, of Yuma, Spc. Leif Skoog, 23, of Phoenix, and Pfc. Gino Duran, 20, also of Phoenix were injured separately during incidents where their unit was attached during their deployment to Afghanistan in 2013. The three Soldiers served with the 819th Engineer Company where Medrano was a wheeled mechanic and Skoog and Duran served as Combat Engineers.
The Purple Heart Ceremony reunited the Soldiers with their friends from the unit of which Skoog is still a member, but Medrano and Duran now serve elsewhere in the state. Brig. Gen. John Burk presided over the ceremony and presented the awards.
“It is an honor to be here and thank you for your service,” said Burk. “Only you know what you went through on your deployment. Keep that as your bond. The Purple Heart is arguably the most significant award of your life. We recognize your sacrifice of our great state and nation.”
As the rest of the unit stood at attention, Burk called each of the recipients individually to receive their medal.
“It was a great experience to ride on a Black Hawk and get an award that is so distinguished,” said Duran. “It brings me honor. I’m not happy about the way I got it, but I am proud to serve.” Duran works full time for National and Alamo Car Rentals. He is married and has one daughter.
Medrano is a single father with one son and is studying full time to be a dental assistant. “It feels good to be recognized and good to be back with the unit,” said Medrano. “Receiving the award helps you appreciate life more – the little things.”
“I am humbled that they took the time to have a ceremony for us and bring us all back together,” said Skoog. “This award helps me realize the sacrifices other soldiers before me have made and the ones who will make sacrifices in the future. Skoog is single, a full time roofer and spends a lot of time improving his own home.
Each of the Soldiers volunteered for the deployment. Duran went just shortly after he returned from basic training. Their primary responsibility in southern Afghanistan was route clearance for convoys. Each suffered injuries as a result of their service and each completed the term of their deployment in Kandahar.
“You expect the worse and you prepare for the worse,” said Medrano. “It builds character,” said Duran. “I can proudly say I did that and I’ve been there.”
The Soldiers said they have no regret performing their duty and serving. They added they appreciate the great support systems they have with their own families and their National Guard Family.
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2014 13:30 |
| Story ID: | 132477 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,165 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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