Remembered: St. Cloud VA ensured a Purple Heart recipient felt seen
VA News ·
A Purple Heart Veteran’s journey from combat injury to recovery, recognition through VA care, and community connection.
Clyde Christian spends much of his time connecting with fellow Veterans and moving forward with his life in Minnesota. To an onlooker, he might appear to be a “normal guy,” but the last three years of his life have been anything but ordinary.
Christian joined the Army in October 2022, motivated by what he described as “patriotic duty.” Within a year, he was stationed at Fort Drum, New York, and deployed in July 2023 to support operations in the Middle East. During the deployment, he sustained a blast injury and was medically evacuated to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury.
“The whole thing is a blur,” Christian said, when asked about the injury and his transport to Walter Reed. He recalls only fragments of the moments after the blast, initial confusion, realizing where he was and quickly moving to cover. It wasn’t until days later, when another soldier noticed he wasn’t acting like himself, that he sought medical care and was formally evaluated. He was ultimately transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and then flown to Walter Reed for ongoing treatment.
Christian spent several months recovering at Walter Reed before returning to Fort Drum for continued care. Despite treatment for more than a year, he continued experiencing symptoms related to his TBI and spinal cord injury, as well as memory loss, migraines, speech challenges and chronic pain. Eventually, the severity of his symptoms led to the difficult decision to medically retire from the Army.
“It was hard because I looked ‘normal,’ but I couldn’t do things I used to do. I couldn’t remember things, and it impacted my ability to do my job,” he said.
During this period, Christian’s unit had also returned from deployment and was undergoing a change of command. Though he knew the process to award him a Purple Heart had begun, the timing of his military separation meant he left Fort Drum without receiving the award in person.
Before his departure, VA liaisons for healthcare and Post-9/11 Military2VA (M2VA) case managers coordinated his healthcare transition to the St. Cloud VA Medical Center , helping schedule his ongoing care and easing what could have been a major stressor during a challenging time.
Months after returning to Minnesota, Christian received a package containing his Purple Heart and a letter from the command team. He wasn’t surprised by the award itself; however, holding the award brought unexpected emotions.
“It felt isolating,” he reflected, noting how much he missed the support and connection of his unit. At his next appointment, he shared these feelings with a Post‑9/11 M2VA case manager.
In response, the St. Cloud VA Medical Center organized a ceremony to formally honor Christian as a Purple Heart recipient. Several VA employees and former service members attended to show support.
“Growing up, I looked up to people in the military. They were my heroes,” he said. “Seeing them all in the crowd as I was being recognized was a surreal experience.”
He expressed deep appreciation for everyone involved in the ceremony, especially the Post‑9/11 M2VA team. Their continued support created a space for him to talk through the complexities of receiving his award in the mail during his transition out of the military.
When asked how the experience made him feel, Christian replied, “Remembered. It was a thoughtful acknowledgment that I was not forgotten about.”
Today, Christian remains connected to numerous VA services, including primary care and specialty clinics. He receives ongoing treatment for chronic pain through medical massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care.
“When people look at me, they don’t necessarily see the injury, so they don’t realize I can’t do everything I used to do.” Once very active, Christian had to adapt and relearn how to do many everyday activities.
He is also actively involved with the Magnus Veteran Foundation, a local organization focused on peer support and creating community among Veterans.
“I think a lot of people would benefit from community, being back with a squad, being around people with similar experiences,” he said.
Thanks to dedicated support from VA programs, his care teams and the Veteran community around him, he continues to rebuild, adapt and find strength in connection.
Service members leaving the military are supported by VA Post-9/11 Transition and Case Management (TCM) programs. VA liaisons for healthcare are located at major military installations with high concentrations of transitioning service members to provide clinically coordinated healthcare transitions and to educate service members, Veterans, their families and caregivers. Regional VA Liaisons for Healthcare virtually serve all other installations worldwide to coordinate healthcare access to VA facilities nationwide.
Every VA medical center has a specialized Post-9/11 M2VA Case Management Program ready to welcome Post-9/11 era Veterans as they transition from military service to civilian life. When service members leave the military, they may experience challenges with a sense of identity, financial strain, employment and/or education barriers, relationship changes, mental or emotional wellness and physical limitations resulting from their time in service. Every Post-9/11 M2VA team is specially trained to address the unique needs of reintegrating service members and Post-9/11 era Veterans and is there to provide expertise, support and connection to VA’s healthcare system.