BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Oct. 13, 2004 — Members of Task Force Guardian were recognized for their service to the Military Police Corps and their support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Sept. 28. During the ceremony at Bagram Air Base, the soldiers received the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service, also known as the combat patch, and some received Purple Hearts.

Soldiers representing the task force were assigned to a variety of units. These included the 25th Infantry Division's 58th Military Police Company; the U.S. Army Reserve's 450th Military Police Company, 81st Regional Readiness Command, and the 101st Airborne Division's 551st Military Police Company.

"We have come here to honor our soldiers," said Lt. Col. Mike Blackwell, Task Force Guardian commander. "We are here to honor their service."

Combined Joint Task Force-76 Commander Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson said he was honored to present the "Tropic Lightning" patch, and noted its significance.

"The last time this patch was awarded was the Vietnam War," said Olson.

With a small number of soldiers that fought in Vietnam still in the Army, Olson said the Tropic Lightning patch will now represent contributions the division is making to the global war on terrorism.

In addition to the combat patch, Olson awarded three Purple Hearts to military police officers who suffered injuries during their service in Operation Enduring Freedom.

He said the Purple Heart is a distinctive decoration fortunately given to very few in the Army.

"This award demonstrates that a soldier accepted danger and sacrificed personal safety," he said. "The Purple Heart also shows the sacrifice some soldiers make while on the battlefield."

The three soldiers who received the Purple Heart were Sgt. Daniel McKeehan, Spc. Patrick Little and Pvt. Robert Schloss, all of the 551st Military Police Company. Little and Schloss received their wounds in an incident separate from McKeehan.

McKeehan was on a security detail in Herat city when he was wounded. He was on a crowded street providing security for a local leader when he was attacked by an insurgent.

"I was just reaching into my vehicle when somebody came up from behind me," said McKeehan.

The insurgent, armed with a knife, inflicted a wound on McKeehan's jaw. McKeehan grabbed his attacker's hand and, with the aid of an Afghan security officer, subdued him.

"It all happened before I knew it," said McKeehan. This just went to show the importance of training. Without it, McKeehan may not have survived the incident.

Little and Schloss were wounded while conducting convoy security for the Afghan National Army in the Ghor Province, near the city of Chaghcharan.

The convoy was ambushed, and Schloss received gunshot wounds to his back and shoulder. The round that entered Schloss' back hit just below the protective plate of his body armor. Fortunately, the Kevlar lining of the vest slowed it enough to minimize damage.

After Schloss was incapacitated, Little stepped in, taking Schloss' place in the turret of the up-armored high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle. He returned fire with the MK-19 grenade launcher and his M-4 carbine, ducking low when the convoy received the heaviest fire.

During the fusillade of fire, Little received a gunshot wound to the head and, simultaneously, a piece of shrapnel struck his arm.

Little said he didn't know from what angle the bullet came, but he suspects that it ricocheted off the top of the Humvee.

Just like Schloss' wound, the momentum of the enemy fire was slowed. Little still doesn't know where the shrapnel came from.

"My parents said my head was just too hard for the bullet to penetrate," said Little jokingly.

Both soldiers received treatment from an Army medic and remained with the convoy through the five-hour firefight that ensued.

All three 551st soldiers who received Purple Hearts were injured just a few months ago. They have since recovered, and returned to full duty with their unit.

Little said this is something he has appreciated the most.

"Our unit has done a great job of just treating us like they always did," he said. "That has helped me the most in getting back out there."

Part of getting back out there has been realizing their situations couldn't be changed. "We did everything we were supposed to do," said Schloss. "We just reacted instinctively and did what we were trained to do."

All three soldiers said they are honored to receive the Purple Heart, but they are just interested in continuing with their duties in Operation Enduring Freedom.

"I will just keep on doing my job the way I always did it," said McKeenan.