Medal

Purple Heart awarded to John Paluska. The medal is heart-shaped and made of gold-colored metal. At its center is a purple enamel background with a gold profile of George Washington facing left. At the top of the heart sits a small gold suspension bar decorated with stylized leaves; the medal hangs from a purple ribbon with thin white vertical stripes near each edge. 

The medal is enclosed in a presentation box along with a Purple Heart service ribbon for affixing to a uniform and a small lapel pin for wearing on civilian clothing. The service ribbon and lapel pin are rectangular bars made from purple ribbon or enamel respectively, with thin white vertical stripes near the outer edges. 

Fordham University freshman John Paluska volunteered at Ground Zero for nearly a week after 9/11, an experience that reshaped his life. Formerly a business major, he began basic training in 2002 and was commissioned as a U.S. Army officer in 2005. He later became a Green Beret, deploying repeatedly to Iraq and Afghanistan over 12 years.

In 2006, on his thirteenth day leading a platoon as a second lieutenant in Iraq, Paluska and his platoonmates were struck by an improvised explosive device and hit by more than 150 pieces of shrapnel. He survived and received a Purple Heart: an American military honor awarded to service members wounded or killed by enemy action.

Today, he supports fellow veterans and advocates for his Afghan military partner’s safety.