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A Utah County soldier received a long-awaited Purple Heart Tuesday for injuries suffered while serving in Iraq.
Sgt. 1st Class Gordon Ewell, of Eagle Mountain, served in the Army National Guard for 23 years, and was injured when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Ewell's duty was to find and destroy the bombs, and his vehicle was hit six different times.
Brigadier General Jeff Burton said the Army is evolving in the way the Purple Heart is awarded. Ewell has waited more than a year and a half for his medal because of the nature of his injuries. While the medal was previously given for visible wounds, those who are injured by some of the roadside bombs in Iraq often have brain damage that manifests itself over a longer period of time.
"They're severe way beyond a concussion," he said.
In December 2005, Ewell's deployment was approaching, so he volunteered to serve with his friends in the 115th engineer group. His first injury was sustained in April of 2006, but despite the injury, he continued to serve in missions for several months and eventually was injured in five subsequent blasts. Sgt. Major Shane Rothwell, who served with Ewell, said the injuries Ewell sustained were not evident until the unit was demobilized in December 2006.
"We never knew he was hurt initially," he said. "He went on 59 missions, and we didn't know he was hurt until near the time we were going home."
Rothwell said members of the unit noticed Ewell was acting funny when they were demobilized, and his condition has gotten progressively worse. Since that time, the effects of the bombs have become more pronounced, and Ewell is legally blind and deaf, and he must walk with a cane.
Although Ewell's injuries slowed his gait as he walked across the stage to receive his medal, the soldier's humor was still evident. Ewell said the medal is given to many members of the military who have already died, and he was happy to get one in his lifetime.
"I'm glad I got to receive it while I'm still horizontal ... or vertical, I mean," he said as the audience laughed.
Rothwell also told a recent story about Ewell's best friend, Sgt. 1st Class Kam Wright. As Ewell went to a medical review board, Wright asked him what the Army thought he could still do, in spite of his injuries.
"The only job I'm qualified for now is yours, Kam," Ewell quickly replied.
Ewell told audience members he was grateful to receive the medal, and he was happy to be surrounded by so many friends. The medal will not cure him, but it may help him in his recovery, he said.
"The award means so much to me and my family," he said. "It won't make me see any better or hear any better or replace the catheter I've had to use four times today. I might still bobble funny, but I'll bobble with pride."
Ewell also spoke about the time he spent in recovery at the Palo Alto Polytrauma Center in California. While at the hospital, Ewell was given a cane by the Michigan Woodcarvers Association, a group that has presented canes to veterans since the Civil War.
Ewell said there were so many badly injured soldiers at the hospital that the group assumed Ewell had a Purple Heart already and carved a picture of the medal into the cane near the handle. While Ewell knew he would receive the medal eventually, he covered the carving on his cane.
"You can't wear an award you haven't received," he said. "Today, that cover can come off."
Burton said the Army is now coming to understand the head injuries soldiers are suffering as a result of roadside bombs. Because of Ewell and others like him, Burton said other soldiers with similar injuries are receiving a Purple Heart while they are still in the field.
"We've broken some ground now where it won't take so long in the future," he said.
Ewell's wife, Terra Ewell, said it has been a long process to get the medal, but state and local leaders have gone to bat for her husband. Ewell was recently recognized at the governor's State of the State address, and the family was given a new house by the Home for a Hero project. Terra Ewell said it was apparent Utah leaders and military officials were supportive of Gordon, and she is glad he has been honored by the national government as well.
Although there were setbacks in the process of submitting the paperwork for the medal, she said her husband remained optimistic.
"He didn't complain," she said. "Because of his strength, his character, he persevered." |
