BASRAH, Iraq – Injured, but not out of the fight, a young American soldier has been awarded the oldest military decoration still in use for wounds received from an enemy attack.
Spc. Elizabeth Downs, a 22-year-old resident of Fresno, Calif., and a U.S. Army reservist with the 422nd Military Police Company, Bakersfield, Calif., was presented the Purple Heart Medal from the U.S Division-South and 36th Infantry Division commander, Maj. Gen. Eddy M. Spurgin, here in Basrah, Jan 4.
Returning from a key leadership engagement, the mine-resistant-ambush-protected vehicle Downs was in, received damage from an improvised explosive device around noon on Jan. 3.
Downs’ squad leader, Staff Sgt. Annette King, of Los Alamitos, Calif., said Downs was immediately brought to the medical treatment facility on post and is now in good spirits.
“She has overcome so much,” King said. “She handled what happened yesterday with courage and everybody is just very proud of her.”
Downs’ platoon sergeant echoed that sentiment.
“I’ll be ready in a few weeks, sergeant,” said Staff Sgt. Rommel Bautista of Bakersfield, Calif., repeating the words of his injured soldier. “It makes me proud to serve with her, but the best thing is for her to return home and have a speedy recovery.”
First Lt. Alexandra Brenner of Sioux Falls, S.D., a registered nurse with the 162nd Area Support Medical Company, said Downs was in stable condition and will be medically evacuated to the Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center Hospital in Germany.
Downs, appearing tired, said she was in good spirits and is grateful for the support from the medical staff and her unit.
“The people here have been really great,” said Downs. “Our commander flew in the same day from Adder. I really appreciate that.”
Unpretentious about receiving the award, Downs said she was just doing her job.
“There have been so many other people who have historically received this award before me,” Down said. “It’s an honor for me to get it when other people have risked their lives. I just got injured.”
It appears it would take more than an IED to destroy the fighting spirit of this soldier.
“I’m hoping that I won’t be injured too long,” Downs said. “I am still a soldier, I signed up for it.”