Two warriors receive purple hearts

  • Published
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) --  Two people wounded in combat received Purple Hearts in a ceremony here Sept. 14 .

Although the two injuries were sixty years apart, commitment and self-sacrifice for the nation brought both Airmen, Staff Sgt. Lee Moses, 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Retired 2nd Lt. William Dean Whitaker, 398th Bomb Group, together to be honored with friends and family by their side.

Both Airmen have memories they wont soon forget.

On June 10, a convoy escorting Iraqi security forces vehicles was on the way to Baji when it was attacked. Sergeant Moses, who was in that convoy, was injured when his vehicle exploded.

Our convoy was about 100 yards from a tunnel, and we were attacked with bullets and rocket-propelled grenades, said Sergeant Moses. Our truck blew up and the driver was severely injured.

I dragged the driver to the side of the road and went to the back of the truck to check on the gunner, but he was dead, he said.

That day has renewed Sergeant Moses appreciation for everyday life.

I could have died, said Sergeant Moses. I feel lucky to be alive. Real lucky.

Sergeant Moses returned here Aug. 6, two days before the 60th anniversary of Mr. Whittakers injuries during from World War II.

I knew we were in trouble when I witnessed a plane flying next to us explode, said Mr. Whittaker. It seemed that every gun in Germany was shooting at us. Sitting in a plexiglass nose was not really a very secure feeling.

Within minutes, a blast hit the nose of the plane and hydraulic fluid covered Mr. Whittaker and shattered bits of glass from the nose went into his eyes.

Medical personnel at the base hospital picked plexiglass out of my eyes for a week, said Mr. Whittaker. Wearing bandages over my eyes was quite an experience and I was very lucky I was not blinded.

Five of my crew members were killed, said Mr. Whittaker. So its an honor for me to be able to receive the Purple Heart with family and friends by my side.