Coats: Bloomfield’s Veatch a “True American Hero”

CRANE – Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) today participated in a ceremony honoring Bloomfield resident Brandon Veatch with the Purple Heart award. Veatch, a former Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, sustained wounds during a firefight in Iraq in September 2004.  

“Brandon is a true American hero and an outstanding representative of the state of Indiana,” Coats said. “He is well deserving of this great honor that recognizes the tremendous sacrifices he has made in service to our nation.”

Veatch served as part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 525 from the U.S. Army. Along with another soldier, Veatch fought through three separate ambushes and sustained injury when the driver of the vehicle he was riding in swerved to avoid enemy fire. Veatch now works at Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center.

Senator Coats helped secure the Purple Heart award late last year.

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