Photo By Claudia Kennedy | Spc. Anthony M. Leyva, 689th Engineer Company, U.S. Army Reserves, recipient of the...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas - The Command and Staff of the Directorate of Mobilization and Deployment were honored to present Spc. Anthony M. Leyva, U.S. Army reservist with the 689th Engineer Company from Orlando, Fla., with the Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) with a “V” Device for Valor, Aug. 23, 2012. In a small, but heartfelt ceremony, DoMaD Director Col. Eric T. Judkins presented Leyva with the two prestigious awards.
He stated, “Honor number one is for being in a place up close with the enemy and for sacrifice. The ARCOM with a “V” device is for his presence of mind and ability to operate under fire while wounded, dealing with other soldiers, while they’re wounded and a determined enemy, doing their best to kill you and your buddies and ruin the mission.” Judkins mentioned a popular analogy that a soldier writes a check for the value being up to and including his life and how Leyva was very close to cashing in that check. He continued, “I am honored to have the opportunity to present these awards.”
Captain Kevin P. Lasagna, the company commander, spoke of the bravery of the soldiers on the dismounted team. “It is the most dangerous job in the world. I’ve gone out with those guys on those dismounted missions. I know firsthand the danger they’re in every single time.”
He described how engineer units conducting route clearance mission have the most heavily armored vehicles in the Army, and the dismounted team walks in front of those vehicles looking for improvised explosive devices with only their body armor and their weapons.
Lasagna continued, “I am in awe of the courage and valor these guys have every single day. I wish I could give them an award for every time we left the wire.”
When he visited Leyva during his recovery, Leyva did not show any concern for himself, but for his fellow soldiers and their interpreter. He grilled the commander on each and every person, as he was concerned for their well being.
Leyva, a combat engineer, conducted many dismounted route clearance missions during his deployment in Afghanistan. During one particular mission, May 13, 2012, his platoon came upon command wire, which is used to trigger improvised explosive devices. The platoon did a secondary sweep and found an IED so far underground that they did not have the capabilities to retrieve it. They called in an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team, then cleared and secured the area.
The security team waited for the EOD team near a school where adults and children were present. As the team was waiting for the EOD team, some children on the street started throwing rocks at them from the direction of the school. Some local nationals came to the aid of Leyva’s platoon and chased the children away. The platoon sergeant, Staff Sgt. Dale Race, engaged the civilians by talking and joking with them for approximately 20 minutes. The local nationals went back to their homes; however, within 10 minutes, another object was thrown in the platoon’s direction.
Thinking the object was another rock, it went unnoticed at first. Leyva then focused on the object that landed five feet from him, and upon recognition, the grenade exploded.
After the explosion, the platoon started to receive small arms fire from fully automatic weapons. Sgt. Mortin Pegues, Leyva’s squad leader and Leyva hid in a semi-constructed building. Leyva ripped his right sleeve to view the wound, where he had been hit by shrapnel. Pegues asked Leyva if he was okay. Pegues then noticed blood dripping from his own head. Seeing Pegues wound, Leyva then ripped his sleeve off and placed it over Pegues’ wound. Leyva then found Pegues’ combat gauze and applied that as well. While Pegues applied pressure to his injury, Leyva carefully lifted his head to monitor the situation. He and Pegues, his squad leader, heard a motorcycle drive away, but did not see the fleeing enemy. At that moment, Race ran up and fired at an enemy, who was trying to flank their position.
“Thank God for that.” Leyva says, “It could have been a bad day.”
Pegues was already on the radio calling for the armored vehicles and medics.
They were all aware another grenade could be thrown.
Fortunately, the platoon was picked up and all involved made it out with their lives.
Leyva had shrapnel still embedded in him until the day prior to the ceremony. Mobilized reservists and National Guard soldiers are not released until they receive a clean bill of health, or if the soldier refuses care, which is greatly discouraged. Leyva wanted to go home before having all the shrapnel removed, but decided to stay and heed the advice of his command.
The medical team from William Beaumont that supports the demobilizing soldiers worked diligently to make sure he received the care he was entitled to efficiently and effectively so he could go home to his family. Leyva, age 23 from Florida, plans to go back to school for auto mechanics upon returning home on 24 August.
He is also very excited to get back and ride the new motorcycle he purchased on mid-tour leave. He was appreciative of the ceremony in his honor, “Thank you so very much for being there. I was so very happy to be there. To see all these people and have an audience and see all the appreciation everyone had for me.”
| Date Taken: | 08.23.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2012 16:59 |
| Story ID: | 99442 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 252 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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