Twelve Purple Hearts Awarded to 116th BCT Soldiers on Independence Day

Editor's Note: The following press release was recently received from CPT Monte Hibbert, 116th BCT Public Affairs, serving in Iraq with the 116th Engineering Battalion of the Idaho National Guard. Some of the soldiers of that battalion are from the Orofino Armory.

FOB WARRIOR, Iraq - Twelve Soldiers of the 116th Brigade Combat Team at Forward Operating Base (FOB) McHenry, was presented the Purple Heart award on July 4 for wounds received in action earlier this year.

The soldiers, from TF 1-163rd Infantry and a unit attached to them, C Co., 116th Engineer Bn., were decorated personally by the Commander of the 116th BCT, Brig. Gen. Alan Gayhart, accompanied by Lt. Col. Walsh, commander of TF 1-163rd Infantry. The ceremony was held before a formation of approximately 100 of their fellow soldiers.

The awardees were; Sgt. Tim Swander, of HHC, 1-163rd Infantry, Spc. Jonathon Pemp, of C Co., 116th Engineer Bn., Sgt. Kelly Nieskens, of C Co., TF 1-163rd Infantry, Spc. John Middlemas, of C Co., TF 1-163rd Infantry, Spc. Nathaniel Loomis, of HHC, 1-163rd Infantry, Sgt. Richard Kivett, of C Co., 116th Engineer Bn., Staff Sgt. Allen Hunt, of C Co., TF 1-163rd Infantry, Spc. Chet Hoerner, of C Co., TF 1-163rd Infantry, Staff Sgt. Daman Hall, C Co., 116th Engineer Bn., Staff Sgt. Christopher Grudzinski, of B Co., TF 1-163rd Infantry, Spc. Mark Cruz, of B Co., of TF 1-163rd Infantry and Spc. Adam Bagley, of HHC, 1-163rd Infantry.

The Purple Heart award was established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York, on August 7, 1782 to honor those wounded in action during a time of war.

The 116th Brigade Combat Team supports the efforts of the government of Kirkuk Province in the areas of communication, infrastructure, economics and security. It is composed of units from Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, Maryland and New Jersey. The unit is comprised of headquarters and staff sections, the 2nd and 3rd Armor Battalions, the 1-148th Field Artillery Battalion, the 1-163rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, the 145th Support Battalion, the 116th Engineer Battalion and various intelligence, signal and specialized units. The 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

Photos: Top--Sgt. Kelly Nieskens of C Co., TF 1-163rd Infantry, after being presented the Purple Heart Medal from 116th BCT Commander, Brig. Gen. Alan Gayhart. He stands with fellow awardees Spc. Jonathon Pemp (left), and Spc. John Middlemas, (right). Bottom--All 12 Purple Heart awardees after being presented the medal by the commander of the 116th BCT, before being presented to the formation of their fellow soldiers at rear, on July 4, 2005. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Jack White, 116th BCT Public Affairs)