MONTICELLO, Minn. - A Monticello soldier injured in Iraq five years ago has finally received his Purple Heart.

Sergeant Eric Phinney suffered a traumatic brain injury when an IED exploded near his convoy; however, it wasn't until April 2011 that the Pentagon started awarding the Purple Heart to veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

Phinney says he isn't the only one who deserved the honor.

"The recognition needs to go to the other 16 members of our team," he said. "It was an amazing run. We did a lot of missions. They need this just as much as anybody else."

Purple Heart awards for traumatic brain injuries are retroactive to Sept.11.

Phinney is currently attending school with the help of the G-I Bill.

(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)