Purple Heart For Eagle Mountain Guardsman

Sgt. 1st Class Gordon Ewell, of Eagle Mountain, served in the Army National Guard for 23 years, and was injured when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Ewell's duty was to find and destroy the bombs, and his vehicle was hit six different times.

Brigadier General Jeff Burton said the Army is evolving in the way the Purple Heart is awarded. Ewell has waited more than a year and a half for his medal because of the nature of his injuries. While the medal was previously given for visible wounds, those who are injured by some of the roadside bombs in Iraq often have brain damage that manifests itself over a longer period of time.

For the complete story click here