Townmates call IlSur US marine ‘living hero’
SANTIAGO, Ilocos Sur–People in this municipality hailed their townmate, a member of the US Marines, and called him a ‘living hero’ after getting a medal when he survived a Taliban assault in Afghanistan in December 2023.
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) bestowed the Purple Heart medal to Lance Corporal Andrew Bautista for bravery in fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the US Marine Corps, awarded the Purple Heart medal last October 11, 2023 to Bautista of Quantico, Virginia, after he got wounded in fight with the Talibans.
Purple Heart is a medal for wounded or killed US soldier.
On Dec. 11, 2019, the Talibans attacked the US Bagram Air base, killing one US soldier and wounding several others including Bautista who sustained traumatic brain injury and physical injury when a bomb exploded near him.
Bautista’s father, Wilson of Coral Springs, Florida, was also an Afghanistan War veteran.
