Two DLA service members awarded Purple Hearts

Two Defense Logistics Agency service members were awarded Purple Hearts during a July 29 ceremony at the McNamara Headquarters Complex, recognizing wounds they suffered in a March 1 rapid aerial attack while supporting U.S. Central Command.

Army Lt. Col. Arturo Lincon and Army Master Sgt. Shawnar Thomas were honored for injuries incurred while serving with DLA’s Deployment Support Team Middle East, part of the agency’s regional command for U.S. CENTCOM and U.S. Special Operations Command. Both are recovering.

DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly led the ceremony and praised the soldiers’ courage and service. “The Purple Heart is not a badge anyone hopes to earn,” Simerly said. “Yet, as a nation and military, we would be remiss not to honor the visible, undeniable reminder of the cost of freedom. It represents the physical toll of combat and the enduring sacrifices of those who step into harm’s way to defend our nation and freedoms. It’s a lasting testament to the extraordinary bravery required to face down our adversaries.”

Simerly highlighted their leadership and foresight under fire, noting that they safeguarded their team and kept emergency shipments, critical repair parts, and life-saving medical supplies moving to forces across the region without interruption. “The readiness of the joint force depends on our ability to sustain it, no matter the danger,” he continued. “We must always maintain our focus and our drive for action because the lives of our warfighters rely on it.”

In addition to the Purple Heart, Lincon received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his work with the DST Middle East from July 2025 to July 2026. According to DLA, he oversaw fulfillment of 14,256 mission-critical requisitions that lifted material readiness by 20%, and directed distribution of more than $54 million in supplies — including $33 million in repair parts, $10 million in bulk fuel, and $11 million in construction materials — enabling sustained operations and force protection.

Lincon expressed gratitude to those who supported his recovery, singling out Thomas for her actions during the attack. “You made sure people made it out of there,” he said. “While others around us froze, you didn’t. You patched me up and stopped the bleeding. And I think I lost count of the number of times we fell down on the way up. But every time, we got back up. We kept going through rubble until we stumbled out of what was left of that burning building.”

Thomas earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for service with the team from December 2025 to June 2026, as well as the Combat Action Badge. DLA cited her synchronization of sustainment nodes across multiple operations and her work coordinating extraction and accountability of personnel. Thomas said, “While reflecting on my journey, I am reminded of the spirit of service and sacrifice that binds us together.” She added, “Receiving the Purple Heart is not just an honor; it is a powerful testament to the sacrifices made and the battles fought. It symbolizes the unbreakable spirit of all who serve. This recognition is not solely mine — it belongs to every soldier who has fought bravely, every family member who has endured heartache and every soul we have lost along the way.”

First created by George Washington in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit, the Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest military decoration and is awarded to service members wounded or killed as a result of enemy action.