A Brookhaven native was awarded a Purple Heart this week forwounds he suffered earlier this month while serving in Iraq.

Army Maj. Thomas B. “Brad” Case, along with Marine Corps Capt.Aaron P. Hill and Marine Corps Staff Sgt. William Rosborough, wereinjured in an Aug. 7 attack at the al-Kasik military training basenear Mosul in northern Iraq. Iraqi insurgent forces attacked thebase with a rocket, several mortars and an improvised explosivedevice, or IED.

Case, 43, the son of Thomas and Janis Case of Brookhaven, was instable condition Thursday at the hospital at Fort Benning, Ga., hismother said. He suffered facial and eye injuries, as well as abroken collar bone, a dislocated shoulder, a partially collapsedlung and broken ribs in the attack.

Case was treated at hospitals in Iraq and Germany before beingreturned to the United States. Doctors were to evaluate himThursday and anticipate performing reconstructive surgery no soonerthan two months from now, his mother said.

The Cases have not seen their son since his return to the UnitedStates but talk to him frequently, his mother said. They plan tosee him once he is able to stay at one medical facility for anextended period of time. How long Brad Case will be at Fort Benningwas not yet known.

The Purple Heart, established by GeorgeWashington during the Revolutionary War, is given to members of thearmed forces who are wounded in action. Janis Case said having herson receive the medal is “a wonderful honor.”

“He’s fortunate he wasn’t hurt worse than he was,” she said ofher son.

Mrs. Case also paid tribute to other troops serving in harm’sway.

“There are so many heroes over there,” she said. “Many prayersare answered every day because so many are there and don’t gethurt.”

Case, who now lives in Elliott, near Grenada, grew up inBrookhaven and lived here until leaving to attend Delta StateUniversity. He is married and has three children.

Of the Marines injured in the attack, Rosborough was in stablecondition following medical treatment in Germany. Hill was treatedin Iraq and released for continued duty.