Mike Collins: “This Nation is blessed with many valiant men and women who have dedicated their lives to military service. My home State…”

“This Nation is blessed with many valiant men and women who have dedicated their lives to military service. My home State of Georgia has no shortage of these heroes, including Technical Sergeant Barry Duffield, who serves as a bomb disposal technician in the Georgia Guard's 116th Air Control Wing. While deployed to Afghanistan, Sergeant Duffield's job was to oversee teams responsible for an incredibly dangerous job--neutralizing improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. Sergeant Duffield and his colleagues successfully completed 52 missions and helped destroy more than 1,200 pounds of enemy explosives. On January 7, 2013, Sergeant Duffield was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he suffered during an IED detonation while deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. Sergeant Duffield also earned the Bronze Star and the Air Force Combat Action Medal for his valor during the same deployment. The Purple Heart is one of the oldest and most recognized American military medals--dating back to 1782 when George Washington created what was then called the Badge of Military Merit to award ``any singularly meritorious action'' by a member of the military. Today, the Purple Heart is awarded to servicemembers like Sergeant Duffield who were killed or wounded by enemy action. For almost 100 years, it has been a Federal crime to wear, manufacture, or sell military decorations or medals without proper authorization.…”