PORT HOPE — After being seriously injured March 29 while serving in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Corps combat engineer Joey Woodke, of Port Hope, received a Purple Heart Tuesday afternoon at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md.
“It was so awesome, Joey receiving his purple medal — I’m so proud of him,” posted Joey’s mother, Cindy, on her Facebook page.
Pastor Greg Eilers, of St. John Lutheran Church in Port Hope, said Cindy told him she shot video footage of the presentation, but Joey wasn’t ready for people to view it. Therefore, she didn’t post it on her Facebook page.
However, Cindy did post a family photo featuring the Woodke’s three children: Cassie, Joey and Jessica. Eilers posted it on his Facebook page, as well.
According to Eilers, who is speaking for the Woodke family, Joey lost both of his legs after stepping on an IED in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Joey’s right leg was amputated above his knee and his left leg was removed below the knee.
Eilers said Joey had other injuries, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Joey, a 2007 Port Hope High School graduate, has been at the Bethseda Naval Hospital since April 1. After being injured, he was transported to a more centralized area in Afghanistan, away from the combat area. He then was transported to Germany, and from there he was on a plane to the U.S.
Eilers said Joey began his Marines service in February 2008. He left the U.S. in September 2010 and traveled to several places before going to Afghanistan.
According to www,purplehearts.net, the original Purple Heart award was instituted by George Washington in 1782 to reward troops for “unusual gallantry” and “extraordinary fidelity and essential service.” The award was a purple cloth heart edged in silver braid, and was to be worn over the left breast of the uniform. Only three awards are known to have been issued, of which two are known to exist today.
“The Purple Heart, as we know it today, was reestablished in 1932 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington,” the website states. “The original criteria for award of the Purple Heart, as published in the War Department Circular No. 6 of Feb. 22, 1932, states that the medal be awarded to anyone serving in the Army who had received combat-related injuries or had received the AEF's Meritorious Service Citation Certificate during WWI, the latter criteria harkening back to the intent of George Washington's ‘Badge of Military Merit.’”
In April 1942, the War Department amended its policy regarding the issuance of the Purple Heart. The new regulations authorized the posthumous award of the Purple Heart retroactive to Dec. 7, 1941, and eliminated the use of the medal as a merit award, according to the website.
In December 1942, the Navy Department authorized the award of the Purple Heart for all fatal and non-fatal wounds retroactive to Dec. 7, 1941. However, sailors and Marines wounded prior to this date were still eligible to receive a Purple Heart upon application.
In addition to awards to those killed or wounded “in any action against an enemy of the United States,” the current criteria for the Purple Heart was amended to include those killed or wounded as a result of “an international terrorist attack” and “as part of a peacekeeping force.”
Traci L. Weisenbach • (989) 269-6461 • tweisenbach@hearstnp.com
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment