Marine Awarded Purple Hearts for Brain Injuries Sustained in Afghanistan Nearly 15 Years Ago

Okinawa, Japan — The wind was crisp as Marines stood in formation, with family and friends coming together in the winter morning. As the medal, the countenance of George Washington set in violet, was pinned over Faffler’s heart, his wife and children by his side, it was hard to not shed a tear as emotions were heightened during this special moment.

U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 William J. Faffler, the visual information officer with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, received two Purple Hearts from Brig. Gen. Kevin G. Collins, the commanding general of 3rd MLG, during a Purple Heart ceremony on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 6, 2025.

Although this ceremony took place in 2025, the origin of these medals began in 2010, during his deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom 10-1. Cpl. Faffler was the singular combat videographer for 1st Marine Division headquarters from March 2010 to March 2011, where he supported the Division’s ground combat elements as the videographer chief, providing visual documentation and imagery product creation and review.

On May 2, 2010, Faffler was attached to Combat Engineer detachment, Task Force Thor, in the vicinity of Now Zad, when his vehicle struck 120 pounds of homemade explosives. His group was inside a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP), which is designed to withstand mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).