The Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military decoration. It is also the one award that nobody wants, according to those upon whom the medal has been bestowed.

Sgt. Matthew Turner, team leader with the Colorado Army National Guard’s Company B, 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry, is the most recent member of the organization to be honored with the medal.

“It’s an odd award to receive,” said Turner. “It’s not one that’s sought out, since you have to be wounded to receive it.”

Members of Company B, 1-157th, the Colorado Military Order of the Purple Heart and other members of the Colorado National Guard and friends and family of Turner were all on hand at the Denver Armory to witness the award being pinned on Turner Jan. 8.

Turner deployed to Iraq in 2007 as a gunner with Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and was part of a mission to eliminate insurgents in the town of Tarmiyah.

A Stryker vehicle Turner was riding in was hit by a remotely-detonated improvised explosive device, disabling it. The explosion hit the left side of the vehicle and partially  underneath it.

“Luckily no one died,” said Turner. “It was sheer luck. The driver turned to the right at the last possible second and that probably saved three lives at least. When the explosion happened, I basically hit the roof.”

Turner suffered a torn left rotator cuff, fractured clavicle, deep tissue bruises over his left arm, a fractured hip and a concussion in the blast.

Turner was wearing all of his safety equipment, including his Kevlar helmet, and is sure that the helmet saved his life.

“Sometimes you get lazy and don’t want to put your helmet on if it’s too hot, but there was never a question of wearing it after that!”

“I almost don’t want it” Turner said of the award. “I think I’m fine and I have friends who were injured far worse, who aren’t fine – and we received the same award.”

The Purple Heart, however, doesn’t keep score. It can be awarded to any U.S. military member who is wounded by an instrument of war at the hands of the enemy in combat, no matter how slight or significant. It can also be awarded posthumously.

“We used to call it the ‘Oh Crap!’ medal,” said Clayton Reyes, a Purple Heart recipient and commander of the Department of the Colorado Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Reyes, who was shot while on a night mission in Vietnam, described his combat injuries as “minor.”

“Anyone that is wounded and sheds blood in defense of this country deserves this award – and all of the honor that goes with it,” said Reyes, “but I would tell Sgt. Turner, like those wiser once told me, ‘Next time, keep your damned head down!’”