First Purple Hearts issued to US soldiers wounded in Iran missile strike on bases in Iraq

Jared Szuba

U.S. soldiers inspect the site where an Iranian missile hit at Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq January 13, 2020. REUTERS/John Davison - RC23FE9EJI5L — US soldiers inspect the site where an Iranian missile hit at Ain al-Asad air base, Jan. 13, 2020. — REUTERS/John Davison

The United States Central Command issued Purple Heart medals to six US Army soldiers who suffered brain injuries from an Iranian missile attack in January that targeted two bases in Iraq.

Twenty-three more military personnel have been approved for the medal by the top US commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Pat White, Central Command announced today.

The first six medals were given to soldiers in Kuwait on Sunday and Monday, CENTCOM spokesperson Navy Capt. Bill Urban said. The remainder of the medals are set to be issued later this week.

The Purple Heart is the US military’s recognition that a service member has been wounded in combat.

First Purple Hearts issued to US soldiers wounded in Iran missile strike on bases in Iraq

The US military issues six Purple Hearts for service members who suffered brain injuries in January and plans to give out 23 more.

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