NASHVILLE, Tenn. --
A former heavy mobile equipment mechanic at Berry Field was awarded the Purple Heart Jan. 11 for wounds received in action.
Tech. Sgt. Shawn Hisel was assigned to the 118th Airlift Wing's vehicle operations, deployed with the Army to the 732nd Air Expeditionary Force, 263rd Gun Truck Company, 7th Trans Battalion, 13th COSCOM.
Hisel was providing security in the gun crew position when his convoy was struck by an IED. As his vehicle passed through an Iraqi police check point, the gun truck was struck with a 155 round IED. The blast had blown through the vehicles, seriously injuring the troops in the convoy. Hisel sustained a back injury and burns resulting in many months of recuperation.
Brig. Gen. Donald Johnson, Assistant Adjutant General, Air, presented the award.