04-04-2025
Fort Carson honors soldier with Purple Heart ceremony
(FORT CARSON, Colo.) — The 4th Infantry Division at the Mountain Post hosted a Purple Heart ceremony to recognize a soldier for injuries sustained while deployed.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jared Grindstaff was recognized on Thursday, April 3, for the sacrifices he made serving his country. Grindstaff was deployed to the Moqur Province of northwestern Afghanistan in 2010. During deployment, he was injured when a military vehicle with his convoy drove over a pressure plate IED, causing the device to detonate. Grindstaff was directly impacted by the blast when the IED detonated nearly 50 meters away.
'It's an honor,' said Grindstaff. 'Absolutely honored to be even considered for it. But to actually receive it. It's, I guess you can say, it's neat, but I stand by what I said. It's not something that you want to chase; something or an award that you'd want to be in a situation where you would receive it.'
The Purple Heart was established by Gen. George Washington in 1782 and is awarded to service members who are wounded, killed, or have died from wounds received in action.
Grindstaff continues to serve his country as a targeting officer for the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
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