JSTARS Airman to Receive Purple Heart | Community Spirit

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – An Air National Guard Airman will be presented the Purple Heart medal at Robins Air Force Base Monday at 3:30pm, by Gen. Michael Hostage III, Air Combat Command commander.

In a unique ceremony held by the ACC commander, Tech. Sgt. Barry Duffield, 116th Air Control Wing explosive ordinance disposal technician, will receive the medal prior to an All Call with Hostage and the troops.

While deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, Duffield sustained injuries from a massive Improvised Explosive Device emplaced under a road.  Upon detonation of the IED, the violent motion of the blast caused head pain and several injuries to areas of his body. 

 During the same deployment, Duffield earned the Bronze Star and Air Force Combat Action Medal.

The Purple Heart medal is known as the “Badge of Military Merit” and is the nation’s oldest military award. For more information about the medal, go to http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/purple-heart.pdf