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Corporal Ulises Zamoramartinez, an optics technician with 1st Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, recieves the Purple Heart Medal by Maj. Gen. Vincent Coglianese, commanding general 1st MLG, during an award ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, California Dec. 19, 2014. Zamoramartinez, a 31-year-old native of Yakima, Washington, earned the award for injuries received while deployed in Helmand province, Afghanistan during a six-month tour with Georgian Liaison Team 10, Regional Command (Southwest).

Photo by Cpl. Cody Haas

Yakima Marine awarded Purple Heart

30 Dec 2014 | Cpl. Cody Haas The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Corporal Ulises Zamoramartinez, an optics technician with 1st Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group,earned the Purple Heart Medal by Maj. Gen. Vincent Coglianese, 1st MLG commanding general, during a ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 19, 2014.

Zamoramartinez, a 31-year-old native of Yakima, Washington, received the award for injuries received while deployed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, during a six-month tour with Georgian Liaison Team 10, Regional Command (Southwest).

Zamoramartinez and approximately eight Marines were securing a forward operating base when an 82 mm Anti-Tank Rocket struck approximately 10 meters away from Zamoramartinez. The shrapnel from the rocket struck him, wounding his leg and causing a Traumatic Brain Injury. Zamoramartinez was evacuated and returned to Camp Pendleton where he is currently recovering, while continuing repairing optics and necessary gear with 1st Maintenance Bn.

He worked as a mental health counselor before joining the Marine Corps in 2011 intent on continuing his work helping to improve other lives while serving on active duty.