U.S. Senator Joni Ernst presented An Iowa veteran with his Purple Heart award during the Guthrie County Memorial Day ceremony held in Panora on Monday. Dustin Teays was a Specialist in the Iowa Army Reserves deployed in Afghanistan in 2013 when the truck he was traveling in hit an IED while his squad was conducting route clearance. Teays and others were medevacked out to a hospital for treatment of injuries received. Ernst says that being awarded a Purple Heart on such a day of remembrance is an opportunity like no other.
Teays says that as overwhelming as everything was, it was a huge honor to be a part of the bigger picture.
Most of Teays family members could attend the ceremony, which he gives much credit to as they were the influential factors in his life.
Being a Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard herself, Senator Ernst says that being able to honor her brothers in arms is the true meaning behind the holiday.
Ernst says she wants to encourage other veterans who believe they are missing medals to reach out to her Des Moines office. Ernst’s staff will help any veteran with research to find the medal they earned and ensure that it is delivered and presented to that service member. The Des Moines Office contact points have been included below.
Joni Ernst Des Moines Office
733 Federal Building
210 Walnut St
515-284-4574
