Barksdale Airman receives purple heart
By: Lynn Vance
Updated: February 7, 2013
Today, Staff Sergeant Jasmine Russell, 2nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, was awarded with the Purple Heart Medal for her service in Afghanistan. Sergeant Russell was assigned with the U.S. Army as a logistics convoy medic in December of 2010. On January 7, 2011 she was wounded when her convoy was ambushed.
"The day started out pretty interesting," said Russell. "I was riding in a convoy of 167 trucks inside truck number 34, and there were lots of improvised explosive devices along our path. I had never gone to this particular forward operating base, so I wasn't familiar with the terrain, but some of the guys in my truck noticed things to be a little strange. We went through this one village and nobody was out. Soon nighttime fell upon us and the next thing I remembered was the truck landing," said Russell.
"The day started out pretty interesting," said Russell. "I was riding in a convoy of 167 trucks inside truck number 34, and there were lots of improvised explosive devices along our path. I had never gone to this particular forward operating base, so I wasn't familiar with the terrain, but some of the guys in my truck noticed things to be a little strange. We went through this one village and nobody was out. Soon nighttime fell upon us and the next thing I remembered was the truck landing," said Russell.
The mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle Russell was riding in was hit by an IED so powerful that it dismantled her truck, ripping off the right side of the vehicle where she was sitting.
Russell suffered a grade two concussion, later classified as a mild form of Traumatic Brain Injury. After a two-year, eight day campaign, Russell finally received her medal.
