Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon National Guard Sergeant, Aaron Johnson, has been awarded a purple heart.

Johnson was hit in the face with shrapnel in 2004, when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb.

After making sure all his comrades were safe, he managed to drive the badly damaged truck back to Camp Victory in Northern Baghdad.

Johnson is scheduled to deploy to Iraq again later this year with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

The Purple Heart dates back to 1782, when George Washington gave medals to three soldiers that served with him.