A Marine finally received a Purple Heart for a 2005 ambush in Iraq

Francisco Roman was leading a team of Marines through the chaotic roads of Ramadi, Iraq in 2005 when the streets suddenly turned quiet.

“We were patrolling back to our base, and I noticed that the streets were empty,” said Roman. “A mosque started playing the call to prayer. I looked back and told my squad mate that it felt like we were in a movie and the next thing I saw was a bright orange flash.”

An improvised explosive device hit his team. Roman was a veteran of the first battle of Fallujah in 2004 and was now…