Two Minnesota veterans received long-awaited Purple Hearts Wednesday for their combat injuries.
Following case reviews by Senator Tina Smith's office, retired Lieutenant Colonel James Mosser of Cannon Falls was awarded a Purple Heart for a traumatic brain injury sustained in a 2009 explosion in Afghanistan.
"After 17 years, getting this award is best described as humbling," said Lt. Col. Mosser. "I'm among the lucky few that lived to tell the story. On this day, I honor my friends and others who did not make it as they made the ultimate sacrifice."
Retired Sergeant First Class Amity "Joy" Marver of Burnsville received two Purple Hearts. One for a 2007 roadside bomb, and a second for a 2020 rocket attack in Iraq.
Sgt. Marver had this to say during the ceremony.
"Surviving a rocket attack, a roadside bomb, and living 20 years in the military, I think I earned the right to say if anything tries to blow me up, they have to get in line," Marver explained.
Both recipients shared their gratitude, but also hope that backlog cases like theirs will also see progress so other wounded veterans can be recognized.
The Purple Heart Medal is awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces killed or wounded in action against an enemy, or while under foreign armed force captivity.
Purple Heart Medal Recipients
- Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) James Mosser of Cannon Falls, MN was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) that detonated near his vehicle in January 2009 while serving in Kabul, Afghanistan, resulting in a concussive injury. After the blast, Lt. Col. Mosser went to the field hospital where they were triaging other severe injuries, but staff didn’t have the time to file the appropriate paperwork for him to receive his Purple Heart. Lt. Col. Mosser didn’t want to distract the medical team with his request, so he waited until he arrived home. Lt. Col. Mosser will be awarded the Purple Heart recognizing these combat injuries.
- Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Amity “Joy” Marver of Burnsville, MN, experienced two separate injuries over multiple deployments in Iraq. First, as a Specialist, in May of 2007, while on patrol in Tallil, Iraq, an IED detonated near her vehicle causing concussive injuries. Second, in 2020, during a rocket attack while serving at Camp Taji, Iraq, she received concussive injuries as she was in close proximity to their impacts prior to reaching shelter. Sgt. First Class Marver will be awarded the Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster recognizing both blasts that resulted in combat injuries.
