Soldier returns home with bronze star

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Days ahead of our country's Independence Day, a local family is celebrating one of their own.

Fort Wayne native, Mark Schenk is a Medical Platoon Sergeant, serving 12 active years in the Army. Serving in the Army is his way of paying back to his country and community Schenk said.

"We're proud of what he does," Schenk's mother, Carol said. "It's what he's chosen to do in life and we just try to help."

During his most recent tour in Iraq, Schenk ran a burn unit treating burned and injured Iraqi children. The unit would treat around 30 new children daily as well as reoccurring patients. The clinic was recently closed as the United States is working to pull its service out of Iraq.

"The Army didn't want to do anything that the Iraqis couldn't do on their own," Schenk said. "Iraqi doctors didn't want to be a part of the burn unity and so it basically had to go away."

For his accomplishments, Schenk was honored with a bronze star. That's awarded to members of the military displaying acts of bravery, merit or commendable service.

"If you can rise above yourself, doing a little service is something that rewards you forever," Schenk said.

Sgt. Schenk says he now has a better appreciation of how blessed those of us are living in the United States.

"The stresses of living in a [poor] economy... probably pail in comparison to hearing explosives everyday and fear for going to the market," Schenk said.

As the country prepares to celebrate independence this weekend, Sgt. Schenk asks citizens to remember the day's true meaning.

"You live in the greatest country in the world. That is afforded to you by the strongest Army in the world," Schenk said.