PTSD made war hero a homefront casualty
By Kelly Koopmans KVAL News
EUGENE, Ore. - The son of a retired Eugene police officer, Michael Mason returned from two tours of the Middle East a decorated war hero.
According to documents obtained by KVAL News, the Army awarded Mason with awards for valor and heroism during wartime.
Mason “voluntarily exposed himself to direct and effective enemy fire” to protect his fellow soldiers in 2005, according to award recommendations.
"He was the kind of young man that every family in every community hopes to raise," said Alex Gardner, the Lane County district attorney.
Mason is now mostly paralyzed from the neck down, the result of being shot by Eugene police officers responding to a report of shots fired at a shopping mall.
Hero 'watched firsthand the loss of dozens of his fellow soldiers'
Four years and two tours of the Middle East took a traumatizing toll on Mason’s mental stability.
“He watched firsthand the loss of dozens of his fellow soldiers during his combat service,” said Mason’s sister Sara Mason.
Gardner said Mason witnessed the deaths of at least 26 fellow soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
And two Wednesdays before Christmas 2010, Mason went shopping at Valley River Center - and snapped.
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PTSD made war hero a homefront casualty
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