Airman receives Purple Heart

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melanie Streeter
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Airman 1st Class Scott Palomino received the Purple Heart and an Air Force Commendation Medal from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on April 20.

Airman Palomino is a surveillance technician from the 603rd Air Control Squadron based at Aviano Air Base, Italy. He was wounded April 10 when a mortar round exploded in his tent at Balad AB, Iraq. That wound resulted in the amputation of Airman Palomino’s leg below the knee.

Besides General Jumper, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray visited Airman Palomino at Walter Reed and thanked him for his service.

Meeting General Jumper and Chief Murray is not something most 19-year-old Airmen are used to, but Airman Palomino said he is getting used to it.

“At first, it’s a little bit intimidating,” he said. “But then it made me realize, hey, the Air Force is really taking care of me.”

That care may be why Airman Palomino is not ready to leave the Air Force, despite his injury.

“I want to stay in,” he said. “And a lot of people tell me they don’t think it will be a problem.”

Airman Palomino will stay at Walter Reed throughout the healing process. There, he will be fitted for a variety of prosthetics and undergo physical therapy to help him use the devices.