Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Costello awards Purple Heart to East Goshen Army veteran
Pvt. First Class Justin Radbill was injured in Baghdad, Iraq during June 2003
WEST GOSHEN » As part of a solemn and touching ceremony, East Goshen resident Justin Radbill was awarded the Purple Heart by U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6.
More than 50 family members, friends, veterans, Purple Heart award winners and state police officers crowded into the Chester County Office of Veterans Affairs, at the Chester County Government Services Building, Wednesday.
Costello pinned the award for injured military personnel onto the U.S. Army veteran’s coat.
Pvt. First Class Radbill was injured in Baghdad, Iraq during June of 2003 and although a ceremony took place, he never was awarded the actual medal.
Radbill walks with help of a cane and will undergo more surgery next week after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated and he was struck with shrapnel, while also suffering other significant injuries.
Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient Dennis Kukulka recognized Radbill’s sacrifices.
“You don’t go into it looking for a Purple Heart,” Kukulka said.
Radbill contacted Costello staffers on Sept. 26 about a sepa-
rate matter and mentioned that he had never received the award.
Costello talked about the Army ranger who served from June 2002 to January 2006.
“PFC Radbill continued to man his turret position,” Costello said about the soldier, following the explosion. “Though visibly in immense pain, PFC Radbill did not step down from the turret until the vehicle delivered all casualties to a secure medical aid station.”
“His dynamic leadership, vision, and professional competence contributed directly to the overall success of the task force.”
The Army ranger’s mother, Charlotte Radbill, and his father Chris Radbill, sat in the first row. Charlotte Radbill used a tissue to dry her eyes.
“It was what he wanted to do from the time he was a boy – he wanted to be in the Army,” Charlotte Radbill said.
As a five-year-old, Radbill was given a G.I. Joe doll and from that moment on was hooked, according to his mother.
Radbill’s grandmother, Sue Reece, had nine siblings. Three brothers and a sister served.
“This is beyond awesome,” she said. “It’s a privilege to think that he was so caring about his country that he went into the service when he was 18.”
Radbill said prior to the ceremony that he was honored and proud that he’ll now have something to hand down or hang on a wall.
Ret. Navy veteran Brendan Murphy said Radbill’s work “is rare and incredibly important to who we are as a society.”
Lawrence Davidson, director of the Office of Veteran’s Affairs, compared Radbill to football players.
“We toss around the terms heroes and warriors all the time – football is a skill, with ability and strength – that’s not courage.”
Costello noted that the Purple Heart medal was first commissioned by Gen. George Washington in 1782, and was then rarely awarded for military valor. General Douglas MacArthur is credited with reviving the practice of awarding the Purple Heart while he served as Army Chief of Staff in 1932 — the bicentennial of Washington’s birthday.
“The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war,” MacArthur was quoted as saying.