CALAIS — A Maine National Guard combat medic who tended to wounded soldiers and fought back during a firefight in Iraq has received a Bronze Star — four years later.

Sgt. Leonard Hanson of Alexander was commanding a gun truck when a convoy came under attack in October 2006. He tended to injured drivers and engaged the enemy with a pistol — his only weapon — to keep insurgents from getting control of an Abram tank. He told the Bangor Daily News he was happy to come out of the four-hour firefight alive.

He said his Bronze Star paperwork “got lost in the shuffle.” Sen. Susan Collins made sure he received the honor and was there as the award was presented Friday at Washington County Community College.