A retired Arkansas National Guard noncommissioned officer received a long-overdue Purple Heart Medal during a ceremony Wednesday in Brookland.
Retired Sgt. 1st Class Joe J. Shelby was honored May 27 during a gathering attended by family members, friends and military personnel.
Shelby served as a platoon sergeant with Alpha Company, 875th Engineer Battalion during a deployment to Iraq from July 2006 through October 2007. According to the Arkansas National Guard, Shelby conducted route clearance missions in Balad, Iraq, and survived seven separate improvised explosive device blasts during his deployment…