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Assaulted Rangers fan was awarded a Purple Heart in Iraq

Neal Auricchio

The Rangers fan who was attacked by a trio of Flyers fans following Monday’s Winter Classic is a former Marine that was awarded a Purple Heart in Iraq.

Neal Auricchio – currently a member of the Woodbridge Police Department in New Jersey – was shot in the leg while serving overseas, though that didn’t stop him from returning for a second tour.

NBCNewYork.com spoke with Auricchio’s father about his son’s condition following the assault.

“He got banged up pretty badly,” said Neal Auricchio Sr. “Stitches in the one eye, and the other eye is pretty puffed up. He went for a CAT scan today, and we’re waiting for the results on that.”

Just a little tip for any aspiring thugs out there – if you’re going to attack someone, you might want to avoid war heroes.

And police officers.

And especially war heroes that are also police officers.

Just a bad PR move.

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