MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Bloomington native Mike Kirkpatrick was wounded while serving as a hospital medic in Vietnam in 1968.

He continued to treat other wounded soldiers even after he was injured by shrapnel. Now 44 years later, he received a Purple Heart for his actions over the weekend.

“I never expected to receive the Purple Heart and I did and I’m amazed. I’m so thankful,” Kirkpatrick said. “All I did in Vietnam was do my job, take care of Marines and they took care of me.”

The Purple Heart is given to all service members hurt or killed by enemy fire. Kirkpatrick’s service buddies tried for years to get him a medal, but they say it wasn’t until they asked Sen. Amy Klobuchar that it all came together.