Army soldier recovering from TBI gets Silver Star

Associated Press

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — A Fort Campbell soldier who suffered a traumatic brain injury has received the Silver Star for his actions to help evacuate wounded troops during a mission in Afghanistan in 2010.

After receiving the honor during a Friday ceremony at the Tennessee-Kentucky state line, Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Loheide of Patchogue, N.Y., immediately re-enlisted in the Army to serve other wounded warriors like him.

Several of Loheide’s former teammates returned to Fort Campbell to see him accept the military’s third-highest medal for valor, which he said was earned by everyone in his unit.

Loheide and others were injured when a bomb dropped on their position during the operation. Despite his injuries and under fire, Loheide marked a landing zone for helicopters to evacuate the wounded and led his soldiers to safety.