25 Purple Heart Veterans America Should Never Forget
25 Purple Heart Veterans America Should Never Forget. The Purple Heart is a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving. The first Purple Heart was awarded February 22, 1932, but there wasn't a consistent record kept when it began. That means we can only estimate the total number which have been awarded. At this time, it's estimated there may have been 1.8 million Purple Hearts awarded.
Most everyone has heard of Micah Herndon, a Marine veteran who crawled to the finish line in the 123rd Boston Marathon on April 15, 2019. Herndon served in Afghanistan in 2010 and was injured during an improvised explosive device (IED) attack during his tour. Herndon said he runs to help deal with the PTSD he has from his tour in Afghanistan and to help him honor and remember three comrades that were killed in the related IED attack. Mark Juarez and Matthew Ballard, two of Herndon's best friends and fellow Marines, and British journalist, Rupert Hamer, all perished from this attack.
After Herndon returned home, he struggled with adapting to a normal, non-combat life. He began running a few miles a day and gradually increased, enjoying the adrenaline rush. "I run in honor of them," Herndon said. "They are not here anymore. I am here, and I am able. I am lucky to still have all my limbs. I can still be active. I find fuel in the simple idea that I can run. Some cannot. I feel like if I am not running, then I am doing something wrong with my life. If I get a heat cramp while running or my feet hurt, or I am getting exhausted, I just keep saying their names out loud to myself. They went through much worse, so I run for them and their families."
Herndon is just one of many amazing Purple Heart Veterans that America should remember. These are 25 more.
Did you know...
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