In a solemn ceremony on May 10, ten soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion received the Purple Heart, one of the military’s oldest and most revered decorations.

The medals were awarded in recognition of injuries sustained during a deadly drone attack on Jan. 28, 2024, at Tower 22, a U.S. military base in Jordan near the Syrian border.

The attack, which claimed the lives of three Army reservists and injured at least 40 U.S. troops, marked one of the deadliest incidents involving American service members in the region in recent years.

Among the injured were 14 soldiers from Charlie Company, a unit of communication specialists who were deployed to the remote outpost to maintain mission-critical operations.

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Lt. Col. Darren Ketchum, the battalion’s commanding officer, presided over the award ceremony, offering words that reflected both gravity and admiration.

“This decoration is not sought, and it’s not given lightly,” Ketchum said. “It is earned through courage in the face of danger. Today, we recognize those who stood firm when faced with the harshest realities of combat.”

The soldiers recognized for their bravery and sacrifice are:

Staff Sgt. David Barrientos (Zebulon, North Carolina)
Sgt. Anthony Gist (Floral Park, New York)
Sgt. Ryan Kissoon (Richmond Hill, New York)
Sgt. Guillermo Renderos (Yonkers, New York)
Sgt. Jarvis Ho So (Brooklyn, New York)
Spc. Christian Tiburcio (Manhattan, New York)
Spc. Matthew Crespo (Brooklyn, New York)
Spc. Domingo Perez (Brooklyn, New York)
Spc. Junior Clarke (Brooklyn, New York)
Spc. Michael Branch (Brooklyn, New York)

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Sgt. Ryan Kissoon, who accepted the medal with quiet dignity, acknowledged the profound emotional weight tied to the recognition.

“I am honored to have received the medal, but it’s never an award we wanted to get,” Kissoon said. “It’s a sad relief we made it home that day, and others didn’t.”

He also shared a poignant message delivered by Tower 22’s chaplain, Maj. Chase Wilhelm, during the aftermath of the attack. It’s a message that has stayed with him ever since.

“‘We are all from different parts of the country, but we will forever be bonded by blood,’” Kissoon recalled Wilhelm saying.

The drone attack, which targeted a section of the base housing American personnel, left behind a scene of chaos and destruction.

Many soldiers suffered concussions and various blast-related injuries. The force of the explosion crushed containerized housing units, described by 1st Lt. Ian Gallagher, Charlie Company’s platoon leader, as having “crinkled like a soda can.”

Despite the destruction and injuries, the soldiers’ response in the immediate aftermath of the attack demonstrated remarkable resilience and professionalism.

Those who were not severely wounded rushed to restore the outpost’s communications infrastructure, ensuring operational continuity for coalition forces in the region.

Combat lifesaver-trained soldiers used their medical kits to treat the wounded, while others voluntarily donated blood to help stabilize their injured comrades.

Capt. Paul Kramarz, the commander of Charlie Company, underscored the caliber of the troops stationed at Tower 22, explaining that each soldier had been carefully selected for the critical mission.

“These soldiers from Charlie Company, located at Tower 22, were a hand-selected team,” Kramarz said. “We knew they would operate at the far reaches of our area of responsibility.”

That sense of purpose and elite selection lent even more gravity to the day’s ceremony, as each soldier stood not only as a survivor but as a symbol of professionalism under fire.

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who are wounded or killed as a result of enemy action. While the medal carries a legacy of honor dating back to the Revolutionary War, it is also a reminder of the human cost of combat.

For the soldiers of Charlie Company, the attack at Tower 22 will remain a defining moment in their military careers—and their lives.

And though the physical wounds may heal, the emotional scars and memories of that day will not easily fade.

Still, through the recognition of their valor, the Army has affirmed the courage and sacrifice these ten men displayed when confronted with one of war’s harshest realities.

As the nation reflects on the dangers its service members continue to face abroad, ceremonies like these serve as a stark reminder of the personal toll behind the headlines—and the deep bonds forged in combat that endure long after the smoke clears.

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