Photo By Staff Sgt. Melanie Trollinger | Lt. Col. Nicholas W. Katers, left, 84th Engineer Battalion commander, received a...... read more read more
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq—Called to "Attention to orders," the crowd of engineer Soldiers stood proud as a Purple Heart citation was read for Lt. Col. Nicholas W. Katers, commander, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade.
Katers, a Green Bay, Wis., native, was injured during a convoy when the vehicle he was commanding struck an improvised explosive devise, May 24. Two other personnel in the vehicle were injured in the attack, Katers said. He is thankful none were seriously hurt.
Katers is serving his second tour in Iraq. He said seeing the incredible improvements in the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces have made this deployment worthwhile. Katers, a 25 year Army veteran, said he will continue to convoy with his troops and he remains confident in his Soldiers and their vehicles and equipment. He praised the quick response of his Soldiers immediately following the attack.
The numerous, and often repetitive, hours of battle drills paid off. He is grateful his Soldiers will recover fully and knows the situation could have been much worse. Katers said rehearsals and inspections saved lives. He attributes receiving only minor injuries to superior vehicles, equipment being tied down and vehicle occupants wearing their safety harnesses.
"As soon as we got hit, I knew the other vehicles in the convoy would protect us. My Soldiers did exactly what they were supposed to do. They responded exactly how they trained," Katers said.
The Purple Heart is the oldest award that is given to U.S. service members. Its history dates back to April 5, 1917.
Katers' other awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He has earned the Ranger Tab, Parachutist and Air Assault Badges and was awarded the Bronze Order of the DeFluery Medal. He also received a Combat Action Badge as a result of the incident, May 24.
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2009 07:14 |
| Story ID: | 37285 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 600 |
| Downloads: | 442 |
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