On March 14 of this year, Decatur County’s own Army SPC Brent Howard Crouch II arrived at Fort Anaconda in Baghdad to begin his duties in convoy security. In October, Crouch was awarded with one of the country’s greatest military honors, the Purple Heart.

The Purple Heart is awarded to those soldiers who have sustained wounds or been killed while serving in the military. The medal, which contains a profile picture of General George Washington, is given in the name of the President of the United States.

Several members of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s personnel security detail received the Purple Heart Medals and Combat Action Badges during a ceremony at the 3rd Sustainment Command Expeditionary headquarters at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

The soldiers, including Crouch, serve as the security detail for 3rd ESC leaders and received the awards as a result of their heroic actions during an improvised explosive device (IED) attack during movement from Camp Speicher to Joint Base Balad in June. Crouch and fellow soldier Staff Sgt. Stephen Vance from La Porte braved the attack, and were both given honors.

The Purple Heart is commonly referred to as “the award no one wants but everyone respects” as a result of injuries sustained from the blast.

Brig. Gen. Michael Lally of the 3rd Sustainment Command Expeditionary pinned the Purple Heart on Crouch’s fatigues at the ceremony. Crouch described the Purple Heart as “an award many soldiers may dream of, but don’t necessarily want to receive because of what has to occur to earn it.”

Crouch’s mother Debra noted that she is expecting her son back in time for Christmas, and that she cannot wait to have him back home.