Utah Army Reservists Receive High Honors

Army Reservists receive high honors
February 24th, 2008 @ 10:01pm
(KSL News)

We hear of suicide bombers, al Qaida, and insurgents in Iraq, but oftentimes we don't get a chance to hear first-hand what U.S. military men and women endure during their tours in Iraq. Today we got that chance.

With little fanfare, no parade, no pomp and circumstance, six men from an Ogden, Utah-based Army Reserve Unit today got the welcome home they deserved, with bronze stars and purple hearts. It was a recognition of extraordinary effort under unusual circumstances.

The members of C Company, as they were known, cleared explosives in one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq, the Al Anbar province. Six of its soldiers were killed. The company was attacked more than 50 times. Through it all, these men and women stuck together.

Sergeant Jordan Taylor, of the 744th Modular Augmentation Company, said, "In my mind, we're just lowly soldiers just doing our job." And in doing just his job, Sergeant Taylor was awarded three purple hearts.

Sergeant First Class Cory Chartier got the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. On the outside of his uniform are the medals. But inside is the trauma of one year of war. "My left side is numb most of the time. I have a few issues with sleeping," he said.

Chartier's wife, Carie, says seeing her husband receive the ninth highest military honor, the Bronze Star, just reinforced what she already knew. "That's the kind of man he is. He just gives everything he can to his job and the soldiers. He makes sure they're taken care of," she said.

Those we spoke to echoed those words: military is family, and you take care of your family