A Trenton native was awarded a Purple Heart Medal on May 18 for wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyson C. Thomas was the senior corpsman assigned to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, when he was in a convoy hit by an improvised explosive device, Dec. 11, 2006.
“It just went kabloom,” Thomas said. “I didn’t know what happened. I just barely remember seeing a bright flash, smoke and broken windows.”
The convoy left the outpost on patrol, Thomas said. Four vehicles went by fine, but the fifth one, which he was in, was hit by two 120mm artillery rounds.
He suffered a grade-three concussion from the explosion.
Thomas’ current enlistment contract is up early next week and he has decided not to re-enlist.
“What happened to me hasn’t changed my views on the military,” Thomas said. “It could have been a lot worse. We were lucky.”
Twenty-four other Marines and sailors from the battalion, along with Thomas, received Purple Heart medals in the ceremony at Camp LeJeune, NC.
“Each one of our wounded Marines has a story to tell,” said Maj. Sean Riordan, the executive officer of the battalion. “Each one put his neck on the line so that the average Iraqi would have a better life for himself and his family.”
The Purple Heart medal has been awarded to service members and civilians since 1932 for wounds suffered in action against enemies of the United States and its allies.