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Russell Ouart, a former North Dakota National Guard Soldier who served with the 191st Military Police Company in Iraq will be awarded a Purple Heart for Military Merit. Retired Spc. Russell “Rusty” Ouart, of Fargo, N.D., will receive the medal at 11 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center, 3920 31st St. N., Fargo. Everyone is welcome to attend the event.
The 191st Military Police Company mobilized in February 2008 and arrived in Iraq that April. The award certificate states that Ouart is receiving the medal “for wounds sustained in action on 04 May 2008 in Iraq.” Ouart joined the North Dakota National Guard in 2006 at age 42 after having previously served in the U.S. Navy. Ouart suffered a Concussive traumatic brain injury (TBI) and shrapnel wounds from a mortar attack in Iraq.
Ouart was stationed with this new 95th Germany Command Unit in the Iraq war zone of FOB Rustahmyah, known for the constant barrage of incoming sniper and mortar attacks on a daily basis. His first Army tour of duty ended with a concussive bomb blast in May of 2008. After being hit by what was later determined to be 2 X 155 rounds of mortar enemy fire, which Ouart was in direct contact with. He was air lifted to medical facilities in Baghdad, and later airlifted to Landsthul, Germany.
Ouart was flown back to Washington, D.C., and later moved to Fort Lewis, Madigan Hospital and Wounded Warrior Transition Unit, June through January 2008-09. At Fort Lewis Army Base, Tacoma, Wash., medical staff struggled to diagnose him as he suffered debilitating headaches, vertigo, short-term memory loss and constant fatigue and kidney failure. Ouart was retired in 2009, and the U.S. Army military processed him and sent him to his 191st unit in Fargo.
Last year, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) advocated on his behalf. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) began working on Ouart’s behalf when he was still North Dakota governor, and Rep. Rick Berg (R-N.D.) also pressed forward aggressively on Ouart’s behalf for the medal, which is awarded to service members who were injured or killed in combat.
Ouart is disabled from his injury, and his wife has taken over the family business of selling and installing office furniture. “The headaches are extreme,” Marilyn Ouart said, adding her husband also has cognitive short-term memory difficulties, and fatigues very easily. “His brain injury will remain with him now as a constant testament to his combat service. He is competent and is adapting to learn to live with what many of our soldiers are suffering and that is the most significant wound of our war and that is traumatic brain injury.
“In 2008, at a ceremony in Washington State, Ouart received citation and a CAB award, (Combat Action Badge) for actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy in a combat situation on foreign soil in defense of our nation.”
Last year, the Ouarts’ home caught fire, by a lightning strike, killing the family pet dog and leaving them temporarily homeless for one year, as they struggled to rebuild. “It’s been a long and difficult battle for Rusty and his family, but they never gave up. “Rusty is a true hero and has shown tremendous strength and resolve.
Ouart today nationally and locally advocates strongly on veteran’s rights and advocacy concerning legislation and has been featured both in print and national television media.
His friend, and very close friend of his family, Maria and Scott Hennen, who has written “Grass Root’s, Common Sense Agenda,” features him in the book he authored. He was VIP with Prince Harry in New York’s Central Park the Achilles Race for Wounded Warriors, had dinner with the McCains, and has been on the field with the Minnesota Twins in New York. Has had contact with former president and first lady George and Laura Bush and attended functions with the Wounded with General Huntoon, the superintendent of West Pointe.
He has been on the music stage with KISS, Montgomery Gentry and Jason Aldean, and has been with both White House secretaries Karl Rove and Dick Morris and has been guest on “Good Morning, America” and the New York “FOX NEWS” shows. He also had the privilege of handing out awards on Veterans Day in New York to students with the 9-11 fire chief Battalion Dan Daly, who spoke in Frazee in February 2010.
Ouart and co-writer Terrance Alan just had a song released out of Nashville self-titled “Wounded Warrior.” Country music talent has already inquired about the song’s availability. Things are moving directionally forward with focus for Ouart these days, including involvement with a big screen movie in which a few co-written original songs will be used in the sound track to the movie “Gold Score,” which is set for future release in approximately 2,000 theaters.
But, every day is still a headache; it is just learning how to adapt to a wound that is not seen but felt every day as with the OIF and OEF wars. TBI is the most significant wound of today’s war. It is also the most silent and unnoticed. “Stay strong, and keep moving,” Ouart said. “While this blast was severe in nature and I didn’t shake it off unfortunately, it will be a lifelong testament to the great deeds that all of our soldiers in uniform today and for what those of all wars have done.
Ouart and his wife Marilyn reside in Fargo with their 3 young boys, Skylar, Brady and Jayden. Rusty is a native of Frazee, MN and Marilyn (Rieger) Ouart is a native of Esmond, ND.
Russell Ouart, a former North Dakota National Guard Soldier who served with the 191st Military Police Company in Iraq will be awarded a Purple Heart for Military Merit. Retired Spc. Russell “Rusty” Ouart, of Fargo, N.D., will receive the medal at 11 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center, 3920 31st St. N., Fargo. Everyone is welcome to attend the event.
The 191st Military Police Company mobilized in February 2008 and arrived in Iraq that April. The award certificate states that Ouart is receiving the medal “for wounds sustained in action on 04 May 2008 in Iraq.” Ouart joined the North Dakota National Guard in 2006 at age 42 after having previously served in the U.S. Navy. Ouart suffered a Concussive traumatic brain injury (TBI) and shrapnel wounds from a mortar attack in Iraq.
Ouart was stationed with this new 95th Germany Command Unit in the Iraq war zone of FOB Rustahmyah, known for the constant barrage of incoming sniper and mortar attacks on a daily basis. His first Army tour of duty ended with a concussive bomb blast in May of 2008. After being hit by what was later determined to be 2 X 155 rounds of mortar enemy fire, which Ouart was in direct contact with. He was air lifted to medical facilities in Baghdad, and later airlifted to Landsthul, Germany.
Ouart was flown back to Washington, D.C., and later moved to Fort Lewis, Madigan Hospital and Wounded Warrior Transition Unit, June through January 2008-09. At Fort Lewis Army Base, Tacoma, Wash., medical staff struggled to diagnose him as he suffered debilitating headaches, vertigo, short-term memory loss and constant fatigue and kidney failure. Ouart was retired in 2009, and the U.S. Army military processed him and sent him to his 191st unit in Fargo.
Last year, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) advocated on his behalf. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) began working on Ouart’s behalf when he was still North Dakota governor, and Rep. Rick Berg (R-N.D.) also pressed forward aggressively on Ouart’s behalf for the medal, which is awarded to service members who were injured or killed in combat.
Ouart is disabled from his injury, and his wife has taken over the family business of selling and installing office furniture. “The headaches are extreme,” Marilyn Ouart said, adding her husband also has cognitive short-term memory difficulties, and fatigues very easily. “His brain injury will remain with him now as a constant testament to his combat service. He is competent and is adapting to learn to live with what many of our soldiers are suffering and that is the most significant wound of our war and that is traumatic brain injury.
“In 2008, at a ceremony in Washington State, Ouart received citation and a CAB award, (Combat Action Badge) for actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy in a combat situation on foreign soil in defense of our nation.”
Last year, the Ouarts’ home caught fire, by a lightning strike, killing the family pet dog and leaving them temporarily homeless for one year, as they struggled to rebuild. “It’s been a long and difficult battle for Rusty and his family, but they never gave up. “Rusty is a true hero and has shown tremendous strength and resolve.
Ouart today nationally and locally advocates strongly on veteran’s rights and advocacy concerning legislation and has been featured both in print and national television media.
His friend, and very close friend of his family, Maria and Scott Hennen, who has written “Grass Root’s, Common Sense Agenda,” features him in the book he authored. He was VIP with Prince Harry in New York’s Central Park the Achilles Race for Wounded Warriors, had dinner with the McCains, and has been on the field with the Minnesota Twins in New York. Has had contact with former president and first lady George and Laura Bush and attended functions with the Wounded with General Huntoon, the superintendent of West Pointe.
He has been on the music stage with KISS, Montgomery Gentry and Jason Aldean, and has been with both White House secretaries Karl Rove and Dick Morris and has been guest on “Good Morning, America” and the New York “FOX NEWS” shows. He also had the privilege of handing out awards on Veterans Day in New York to students with the 9-11 fire chief Battalion Dan Daly, who spoke in Frazee in February 2010.
Ouart and co-writer Terrance Alan just had a song released out of Nashville self-titled “Wounded Warrior.” Country music talent has already inquired about the song’s availability. Things are moving directionally forward with focus for Ouart these days, including involvement with a big screen movie in which a few co-written original songs will be used in the sound track to the movie “Gold Score,” which is set for future release in approximately 2,000 theaters.
But, every day is still a headache; it is just learning how to adapt to a wound that is not seen but felt every day as with the OIF and OEF wars. TBI is the most significant wound of today’s war. It is also the most silent and unnoticed. “Stay strong, and keep moving,” Ouart said. “While this blast was severe in nature and I didn’t shake it off unfortunately, it will be a lifelong testament to the great deeds that all of our soldiers in uniform today and for what those of all wars have done.
Ouart and his wife Marilyn reside in Fargo with their 3 young boys, Skylar, Brady and Jayden. Rusty is a native of Frazee, MN and Marilyn (Rieger) Ouart is a native of Esmond, ND.
