Congressman Krishnamoorthi Presents Purple Heart to Army Veteran Sergeant First Class Joseph Leuze For Wounds He Sustained In The Vietnam War

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) hosted a special ceremony at his district office to present a long-overdue Purple Heart to U.S. Army veteran Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Joseph Leuze, recognizing wounds he sustained during the Vietnam War. At the brief reception, Congressman Krishnamoorthi formally awarded the Purple Heart to Sgt. Leuze, whose military service spanned 35 years and included combat deployments in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Afghanistan. The award, promised decades ago but delayed due to bureaucratic backlog, was finally presented in front of family, staff, and members of the press.

“Sergeant Leuze’s decades of distinguished service across three conflicts are a testament to his courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “It was an honor to present this long-deserved recognition and personally thank him for his extraordinary service to our country.”

Sergeant Leuze, 73, is a Bronze Star recipient and retired combat medic. In addition to his combat roles, he dedicated much of his military career teaching lifesaving medical care.