17 Years Later: Retired Army Staff Sgt. George O’Dell Receives His Purple Heart
Some moments are a long time coming.
On September 24, 2026, Retired Army Staff Sgt. George F. O’Dell was presented with the Purple Heart, 17 years after he was seriously injured while serving in Baghdad, Iraq.
On July 8, 2009, O’Dell was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and serving as the Critical Care Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge. While providing security and overwatch during an Iraqi patient ambulance exchange, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated approximately 100 meters from his position, causing significant injuries.
Yet the Purple Heart recognizing those injuries was never awarded.
Years passed. O’Dell medically retired from the Army in 2013 and continued serving his fellow Veterans and his community, including as an active volunteer with Sheep Dog Impact Assistance.
In 2026, Congressman Steve Womack’s office advocated to the U.S. Army on O’Dell’s behalf, helping move his case forward for review. On September 24, Congressman Womack formally presented O’Dell with the Purple Heart at the Veterans Wall of Honor in Bella Vista, Arkansas.
Watch the Ceremony
For those who could not be there in person, the ceremony was captured on video.
A Recognition 17 Years in the Making
The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to service members wounded or killed as a result of enemy action. For George, receiving it 17 years later does not change what happened in Baghdad, but it ensures that his service and sacrifice are formally recognized in the record.
We are especially proud to know George not only as a Veteran, but as a member of the Sheep Dog Impact Assistance community and an active SDIA volunteer.
This ceremony also carried special meaning because of where it took place. The Veterans Wall of Honor exists to preserve the stories, service, and sacrifices of the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. George’s long-overdue recognition became another piece of that living history.
To George: thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and for continuing to serve others long after returning home.
Seventeen years was far too long to wait.
We are honored to see this chapter finally written into the record.