Central Illinois man honored with the Purple Heart

Peoria, IL, USA 1470 & 100.3 WMBD

Nov 25, 2019 | 6:43 AM

Purple Hearts Reunited founder Capt. Zachariah Fike, who was wounded in Afghanistan while serving with the Vermont Army National Guard, displays a Purple Heart from Pearl Harbor which has yet to be reunited with its owner or relatives, during the National Order of the Purple Heart National Convention in Denver, Thursday Aug. 7, 2014. Purple Hearts Reunited receives lost Purple Hearts and works to reunite the medals with their original owners. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – A central Illinois man has been awarded the Purple Heart and other military honors for his role in combat during the Iraq War.

The Peoria Journal Star reports that Sergeant Matthew Bohm also received the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, the combat action badge and the meritorious unit citation.

Bohm was honored for his role in combat during an ambush of a transportation convoy on April 9, 2004. Three soldiers and five contractors were killed and 16 others were wounded.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood presented the decorations on Friday. He calls Bohm a “hero” in the community. LaHood’s office worked with the Department of Defense to secure the medals.