You are about to leave the Brooke Army Medical Center Web Site.

This hyperlink does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, or Brooke Army Medical Center of this Web site or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, and Brooke Army Medical Center do not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD Web site.


Click the link below to proceed or close this message to return to the previous page.


blank


U.S. Senator honors Purple Heart Recipient

BAMC News & Awards



Story by Robert Shields, BAMC Public Affairs
Published February 21, 2013



Photo by Robert Shields

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, presents the Purple Heart meda

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, presents the Purple Heart medal to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jerry Hamilton during a ceremony at the Warrior and Family Support Center Feb. 20. Hamilton was wounded Oct. 24, 2012, when his forward operating base in Afghanistan was struck by indirect fire

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz talks with Wounded Warrior Army Spc. Eduard Lychik

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz talks with Wounded Warrior Army Spc. Eduard Lychik about his injuries and care at the Center for the Intrepid. Lychik also informed the senator that he recently completed the Austin Marathon in just over 4 hours.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas visits with command staff

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, center, visits with, from left, 59th Medical Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Maurice James, Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, 59th Medical Wing commander, Maj. Gen. M. Ted Wong, commander of Southern Regional Medical Command, and Col. Kyle D. Campbell, Brooke Army Medical Center commander, at San Antonio Military Medical Center during a Feb. 19 visit to Brooke Army Medical Center. During his visit, Cruz presented a Purple Heart to a Wounded Warrior and toured the hospital and the Center for the Intrepid.

2/19/2013 – JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON— A newly elected U.S. senator from Texas honored a soldier with a Purple Heart medal at the Warrior and Family Support Center and also visited with wounded warriors at San Antonio Military Medical Center Feb. 19.

After BAMC Commander Col. Kyle D. Campbell opened the ceremony, Sen. Ted Cruz presented the medal and certificate.

Cruz welcomed Purple Heart recipient Chief Warrant Officer Four Jerry Hamilton with words of praise for his courage, dedication and his sacrifice.

“On behalf of 26 million Texans and on behalf of Americans across our great nation…thank you for your service every single day,” he said. “Thank you for standing up for our country, for our values, for the Constitution, and for your bravery and sacrifice. It’s because of you that we will remain the greatest and freest nation on earth. I’m humbled to stand among modern day heroes. God Bless you.”

While serving as a CH-47F pilot in Afghanistan, Hamilton was wounded when his forward operating base was struck by indirect fire.

“I wouldn’t have been here today if it weren’t for these two,” Hamilton said leaning in to give his wife Rachel and infant son Alex a kiss. “To be able to stand here today, I want to thank Col. Campbell and the staff here at BAMC. This is an award none of us want so this one here is for my family. Thank you.”

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action.

Following the ceremony, Cruz visited with wounded warriors at the Center for the Intrepid and gave them words of encouragement.