Governor Abbott Presents Texas Purple Heart To Four Soldiers
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - Governor Greg Abbott presented the Texas Purple Heart at the Brooke Medical Center to four members of the United States Military Thursday.
Specialist James Burkett of San Antonio, Private First Class Jose Romo of Pasadena, Staff Sergeant Guadalupe Chapa of Corpus Christi and Sergeant Michael Cantu, of Uvalde were injured by an IED blast while serving on the Multinational Force and Observers Mission in the Sinai Peninsula on September 3rd, 2015.
They were members of A Troop, 1-112 Cavalry Squadron, 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard.
All of the service members involved sustained non-life threatening injuries.
"It is my humbling privilege to award the Texas Purple Heart to four soldiers who have so bravely served and defended our nation," said Governor Abbott. "These valiant warriors, like the generations before them, have fought and bled for our nation, our values and our freedoms, and we are eternally grateful for the sacrifices they have made. On behalf of the State of Texas, I express my sincerest gratitude to these soldiers and to all of the brave men and women who have served our country, worn the uniform with honor and who have courageously placed themselves in harm's way on our behalf."
The Texas Purple Heart Medal is awarded to any member of the State Military Forces of Texas after September 11, 2001, who was inducted into federal service from the Texas Military Forces, and meets the criteria for an award of the Federal Purple Heart Medal.
All four soldiers were awarded the Federal Purple Heart before returning to the United States.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)