Dakota Wesleyan alum, Army vet Jerry Stravia awarded Purple Heart

Jul. 18—MITCHELL — Jerry Stravia IV was feeling a mix of emotions on Thursday morning at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Having just received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat, the Army veteran shifted from a wide smile, laughter, and warm embraces from friends and family to reflective tears.

"I'm honored," Stravia said following the ceremony, which was attended by dozens of members of the public along with U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, who presented the Dakota Wesleyan alum and history major with the medal. "I'm just blessed. It seems like a lot of hoopla for an old wrestling coach."

Stravia was being presented with the Purple Heart for wounds suffered from improvised explosive devices in 2007 during a deployment to Iraq. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was driving was targeted several times, the most attacks coming on March 18 and 19 of that year. Those attacks resulted in several injuries for Stravia and led to his eventual retirement from the military.

Though he was considered for the Purple Heart, it was difficult to get confirmation for the medal because he suffered from a traumatic brain injury. The Army defines the injury as similar to a concussion and can be caused on the battlefield by blasts, vehicle collisions or blows to the head.

Rounds and his staff entered the picture in 2018 with the goal of obtaining proper records and resubmitting an awards packet for consideration. After several denials from Army officials, the Army Awards and Decorations branch finalized its review of Stravia's case in April and decided that he is deserving of the Purple Heart.

"Part of the responsibility that we have is to try to right wrongs. In this case, his application for a Purple Heart was denied. We believed that it was wrongly denied, and so for the last several years, we've been working with Jerry and with the Department of the Army to reconsider," Rounds told the Mitchell Republic. "And they have agreed that this (traumatic brain injury) that Jerry suffered is not only identifiable, but we know the days that it occurred."

Rounds said Stravia stayed with his unit after the attacks, delaying any medical treatment he might have received until well after the event. That dedication is an example of what soldiers are willing to endure for their comrades in arms and their country.

But it's also likely what delayed his approval for the Purple Heart.

"He wanted to stay with his buddies. He didn't want to leave his team. Since he didn't take medical assistance at that time, they had no way to determine what day it had occurred, so we had to go back and reconstruct that," Rounds said. "We were successful in doing so. It took years to get it done and several denials, but the Army saw the fact that TBI is different, and it clearly lended evidence to the fact that he deserved the recognition and should be honored with the awarding of a Purple Heart."

Seating at the Tiger Cafe at the George McGovern Library was at a premium for the short program, with friends, family and representatives of the school, for which Stravia had played football and wrestled in addition studying there, were on hand to honor him.

Stravia previously lived in Mitchell and was an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Mitchell but became pastor at Prairie Winds Church in Dickinson in 2019. He also

built a bond with the Mitchell community

in 2015 and 2016, when neighbors and businesses supported him in building an accessible addition to his home on North Rowley Street.

Bob DeJong, veterans service representative for Rounds' office, gave a brief history of the medal and noted that it differs from other similar recognitions.

"While the Purple Heart is clearly an individual decoration, the Purple Heart also differs from all other decorations," DeJong said. "An individual isn't recommended for this medal or award. They are entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria."

The work by the Rounds staff finally convinced military officials that Stravia had met that criteria and had earned the recognition that had long been denied.

Stravia spoke briefly at the ceremony, thanking friends and family for attending, noting that some had traveled hundreds of miles to be on campus Thursday morning. He recollected and praised former fellow soldiers who did not come home from deployment, and noted that his faith helped him in his post-military life and in his position as a coach.

He singled out his wife, Rebecca, with whom he and his children live in Dickinson, where he works as a high school wrestling coach, for special praise.

"She's the real hero," Stravia said, before thanking the audience. "It's been overwhelming, and I appreciate all of you."

Holding the ceremony at the McGovern Library was especially poignant, Stravia said, as he had spent many hours there during his time at Dakota Wesleyan.

"I love this university. It's been a big part of my life," he said. "This library is really special. I worked here all through college. ... There are a lot of special people here."

Rounds said soldiers like Stravia are what allow the everyday citizenry of the United States to enjoy and embrace their freedoms. When veterans put their own safety and well-being on the line, often sacrificing both, it should be recognized.

He is an example of an American of the highest order, Rounds said, and an example to other citizens about what it means to commit to duty and to sacrifice to see that duty done.

"Defending this country is not easy, and it is not free. It takes sacrifice, and it takes service. We celebrate the fact that Jerry has allowed us to share with everybody else the importance of defending our nation so that the next generation can live in Freedom," he said. "Jerry, thank you for your sacrifice and your service."