Purple Hearts have been presented to three airmen who were injured during a drone strike that occurred in January at Tower 22 in Jordan, according to an announcement made by the National Guard.
Three members of the armed forces were killed, and over forty others were injured as a result of the attack that took place on January 28. The recipients were Air Force Staff Sergeant Michael Byrne, Senior Airman Herland Antezana, and Staff Sergeant Dustin Dinkelacker, who are all members of the 129th Rescue Wing, which is based at Moffett Air National Guard Base in California.
The explosion caused the three airmen to lose consciousness during the attack, which was ultimately determined to have been carried out by a militia supported by Iran. Immediately after regaining consciousness, they started looking for other members of the military in the midst of the commotion.
"This is not a training exercise," the speaker said. "We ran into the center of where it happened." According to Byrne, who was quoted in a press release issued by the 129th Rescue Wing, "This is real life."
The Purple Hearts were awarded to the airmen at an event on October 5th. Maj. Gen. Steven Butow, the commander of the California Air National Guard, was present. During the event, he lauded their bravery and commitment, pointing out that their prompt response most certainly prevented many from losing their lives.
Between October 2023 and January 2024, the United States and coalition forces were subjected to approximately 150 attacks in Iraq and Syria. The attack that occurred in January signified a substantial escalation in the level of hostilities that were taking place in the region. The drone attack was historically significant since it was the first time that it had resulted in the deaths of American citizens in Jordan.
In addition to expressing gratitude for the assistance that has been received since the tragedy, Byrne also pondered on the loss of their slain friends, saying, "I can't help but think of them and their families."
Despite the fact that they were injured, the airmen maintained their deployment until May, demonstrating that they continue to be resilient and dedicated to their task.
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