Four Marines awarded Purple Heart for their sacrifice

Four Marines were added to the Purple Heart’s list of heroes injured during battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The awards were presented to the Marines during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton’s Wounded Warrior Battalion (WWBn) West barracks, Aug. 20.

Since April 5, 1917, the Purple Heart has been an honorary award received by military members who have been injured or killed in battle. Lance Cpl. Oscar Gracia, Cpl. Ricky Giden, Sgt. Mark Plummer, and Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Marino, all with WWBn-W, were awarded this medal for their bravery and sacrifice.

“The Purple Heart is just one of the medals you don’t want to see another Marine or service member wearing,” said Giden, “It’s an honor, but at the same time a sacrifice.”

Each of the four Marines that received the Purple Heart has their own background story of combat experiences that brought them where they are today.

Gracia, who was a machine gunner with 2nd battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, received two purple hearts on this occasion. Both were for actions during his first deployment to Afghanistan, where he encountered Improvised Explosive Devices and traumatic brain injury, seizures and external injuries.

“It’s like my whole world was put on hold,” Gracia said. “I spent a year in the hospital, and I’ve been at WWBn-W for over 9 months.”

Giden’s story was slightly different. While on deployment in Afghanistan, Giden, a field radio operator with 3rd Anglico, Marine Forces Reserve, got caught in a firefight. His sergeant major stepped on an IED and Giden was thrown 30 feet.

“I don’t remember anything after the explosion,” said Giden. “All I know is, I woke up in the hospital with herniated disks in my back, spinal shock and TBI.”

Plummer, an engineer with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, was injured on Father’s Day in Fallujah, Iraq. He encountered a vehicle born IED, which put him in the hospital for six months with vertigo and TBI.

“I’m so much more appreciative of my family and friends now,” Plummer said. “It’s scary to come that close to death.”

Marino, a field radio operator with 1st Marine Division, was injured by a vehicle born IED while in Iraq. From his incident, he suffered from TBI and other external injuries.

“You have to live day in and day out as if it were your last,” Marino said during his speech. “Whether it’s issues from our past, present or future, it’s not a burden we want to share alone, and that’s what our family is here for.”

At the end of the ceremony, the Purple Heart medal was pinned on the recipients’ chest, and then they, along with friends and family, received a buffet-style lunch.

“This medal helps us get closure from what we have experienced,” said Marino. “It helps us talk about it, which is part of the healing process.”

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