U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jason Mazzella, receives the Purple Heart Medal during a Warriors in Transition Purple Heart Ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, March 26, 2010. Defense Department photo by U.S. Navy 1st Class Petty Officer Molly A. Burgess
By MC1 Molly A. Burgess
The valiant actions of three injured U.S. army soldiers were recognized during a March 26 Warriors in Transition Purple Heart ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
The prestigious award was presented to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jason Mazzella, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Robert Sutherland and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ferdale Huey, all of whom are Walter Reed patients. They are recovering from injuries suffered during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Huey said he recognized the medal is often awarded posthumously.
“The sad reality is something bad has to happen to you in order to get it,” Huey said about the price most people pay in order to be awarded the medal, adding, “ It is a great honor to be able to be here alive and to receive it.”
The circumstances that led to the extensive injuries of each honoree vary. Mazzella’s injuries occurred from a rocket attack while he was administering medical assistance to Afghan civilians.
A Warriors in Transition Purple Heart Ceremony took place at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, March 26, 2010, where three U.S. Army soldiers received the Purple Heart. Defense Department photo by U.S. Navy 1st Class Petty Officer Molly A. Burgess
Sutherland’s mounted combat patrol vehicle in Afghanistan was attacked by a suicide bomber and Huey, a soldier assigned to Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, was injured by the blast of a nail infested improvised explosive device while conducting IED forensics in Iraq.
All three will remain at Walter Reed until their recovery process is completed. Then they will be re-evaluated to determine their status.
“Some days I want to remain on active duty because I love the military, and some days I hurt so bad I want to go home,” Huey said.
The pain and scars from injuries do not cloud their vision of the honor and meaning of being able to wear the Purple Heart Medal.
“It was a medal that I always told my wife I never wanted to get,” Mazzella said, “but now that I have it, it’s something that I’ll wear proudly just for the soldiers that have received it and were killed in combat.”
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