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Soldier receives Purple Heart

May-26-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

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By Bill Cissel, Journal Staff Writer

RAPID CITY — Fighting back tears and speaking with a voice choked with emotion, a Rapid City reserve officer accepted his Purple Heart and Army Commendation medals Tuesday during a ceremony at VFW Post 22.

Lt. Jeff Allen, an Army Reserve anesthetist with the 348th Combat Support Hospital in Albany, N.Y., was awarded the medals after being wounded in Iraq on April 6. Allen received shrapnel wounds to both legs. The blast also blew out his right eardrum and left eight pieces of metal around his right eye.

Even after being wounded, Allen grabbed his M-16 rifle and began firing to protect his fellow soldiers. [...]

Presenting the medals were Maj. Gen. Mike Gorman, adjutant general of the South Dakota National Guard, and Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Gorman said Allen always placed patient care first and was known for motivating team members.

Gorman noted that Allen was assigned to the 3rd Striker Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division in northwest Iraq, a very active area of combat.

"Lt. Allen displayed the highest level of initiative in delivering care for combat-related trauma patients," Gorman said.


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