Airman receives Purple Heart, Army commendation medal

***image1***An Airman from the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron at Vogelweh was recently presented with a Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Medal for his service in Iraq.

Senior Airman Joseph Wilson was a 50-caliber turret gunner for the 1058th Gun Truck Company under the Army’s 42nd Infantry Division for a six-month deployment to Forward Operating Base Speicher near Takrit.

“On the evening of Aug. 19, Airman Wilson was the gunner in the first security vehicle of a 20-vehicle convoy from FOB Speicher to FOB Warrior when an IED was detonated as his vehicle drove past,” said 1st Lt. David Knight, 569th USFPS section commander.  “The IED sent shrapnel flying into the air striking Airman Wilson in the face below the right eye, inflicting a major laceration to his face, breaking all the capillaries in his nose, and temporarily damaging his hearing.”

The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries, but the other passengers were uninjured.  

“Airman Wilson was taken to the nearest Army CASH for treatment,” said Lieutenant Knight.  “He was able to return to duty and was able to finish out