Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Arthur Koinis is presented the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. Sgt....... read more read more
By 1st Lt. Andrey Takhtovich
555th Engineer Brigade
BAGHDAD – On Nov. 18, 2008, two Soldiers from 4th Platoon, 370th Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion were recognized for their actions during an enemy rocket attack on Aug. 19, 2008, on Forward Operating Base Garryowen in the vicinity of al Amarah, Iraq.
The 54th Engineer Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Christopher Lestochi, was joined by the Battalion's Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Omundson as well as the 370th Engineer Company commander and 1st Sgt., Capt. Douglas Massie and 1st Sgt. Thomas Biggerstaff, in presenting the awards.
Lt. Col. Lestochi presented several awards to members of 4th Platoon. He presented the Purple Heart to Sgt. Arthur Koinis of Staten Island, New York and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor device to Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Doyle of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Pvt. 1st Class Doyle received the Army Commendation Medal with Valor device for his actions during the rocket attack. After shrapnel from one of the rockets injured Sgt. Koinis, Pvt. 1st Class Doyle pulled Sgt. Koinis off his cot and to the ground. As the rockets continued to land, Pvt. 1st Class Doyle shielded Sgt. Koinis from further harm using his own body.
Pvt. 1st Class Doyle then assessed Sgt. Koinis' wounds and helped to evacuate him to the Field Surgical Team. Sgt. Koinis received shrapnel wounds and was medically evacuated to the Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany.
Sgt. Koinis made a complete recovery and recently returned to Iraq to rejoin his platoon. Also presented during the ceremony were nine Combat Action Badges and one Army Commendation Medal to various members of 4th Platoon, 370th Engineer Company.
| Date Taken: | 01.08.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.08.2009 09:23 |
| Story ID: | 28600 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 656 |
| Downloads: | 258 |
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