TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE — Two airmen were presented with the Purple Heart medal on Friday, calling awareness to the fact that combat injuries often go unseen.
Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Wilhelm and Staff Sgt. Anthony Cerrone, both explosive ordnance disposal technicians assigned to the 823rd RED HORSE Squadron, received the decoration during a ceremony on Tyndall AFB for sustaining injuries during combat in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
“Both men had enemy ammunition explode near them,” Maj. Steven Thomas, commander of Detachment 1 of the 823rd RED HORSE Squadron, said in his speech prior to presenting the Purple Hearts to both recipients.
Wilhelm and Cerrone received their Purple Hearts for enduring traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from repeated exposure to enemy ammunition explosions. Their deployments were spent locating and disarming bombs.
“Everytime he went away, I was nervous,” said Timothy Cerrone. “I knew what he was doing.”
Timothy Cerrone traveled to Tyndall from
Timothy Cerrone said he was honored to see his son accept the decoration, extending the legacy of other family members who had served in WWII and the Civil War.
The Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest running military award presented to veterans wounded or killed in combat. The ceremony is always used as an opportunity to recognize other Purple Heart recipients.
Wilhelm and Cerrone were presented shadow boxes prepared by the 823rd RED HORSE squadron, each containing Purple Hearts loaned to the new recipients for their special day.
The heart presented to Wilhelm during the ceremony was loaned by the family of the late 1st Lt. Jim Dozier, a veteran of both world wars. Cerrone was presented the Purple Heart originally issued to WWII veteran Army Staff Sgt. Morgan Donato of
Thomas said he hoped presentation of the awards on Friday would highlight the “epidemic of traumatic brain injury” occurring in combat. Since TBI is an unseen injury, many do not realize they have been impacted and go untreated.
Service members that receive the Purple Heart for TBI must be verified through witness reports and medical documentation during the application process.
Both Wilhelm and Cerrone have received treatment at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, a military treatment facility specialized in treating TBI. Smith said the NICoE teaches airmen how to manage their injuries.
The occasion was Thomas’s first time presenting the Purple Heart.
“I honestly hope I never have to do that again,” said Thomas. He said that while it is a rare honor, it comes at such a high price.
Thomas has only known Wilhelm and Cerrone for about a year, far after their injuries occurred, but said he knows them both to be true patriots.
“They need to be honored, recognized, and appreciated,” he said.