U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, commanding

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, commanding general, 2d Marine Division (Fwd.), presents the Purple Heart Medal to Spc. Nicholas McInerney, 309th Mobility Augmentation Company, 863rd Engineer Battalion during a ceremony held at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. McInerney was awarded the medal for injuries sustained in an improvised explosive device strike on his route clearance vehicle. During the ceremony, 12 soldiers from the 309th MAC received the Purple Heart, created by Gen. George Washington, Aug. 7, 1782, while Washington was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. The company and 863rd support Task Force Overlord in Afghanistan. The task force, led by the 25th Naval Construction Regiment, is responsible for construction and construction engineering in southern, southwestern and western Afghanistan.