Soldiers provide first aid and assistance to civilians off duty

Photo By John Crosby | Amity Fire Protection Chief Jackie Brockman stands with Staff Sgt. Justin Harris and...... read more read more

Photo By John Crosby | Amity Fire Protection Chief Jackie Brockman stands with Staff Sgt. Justin Harris and Staff Sgt. Jeff Anderson of Muncie, Ind., at an awards ceremony at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center in central Indiana July 30. Brockman presented the two Soldiers with a plaque, representing his appreciation for their selfless service in coming to the aid three injured civilians just outside the posts gates.  see less | View Image Page

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES

07.30.2010

Story by Spc. John Crosby 

Camp Atterbury Indiana

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CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. – Three Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 205th Training Support Brigade and five Iowa National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team were recognized at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., July 30 for their selfless acts displayed while off duty.

These Citizen-Soldiers acted as first responders, coming to the aid of critically injured civilians in two separate events while off duty.

Additionally, the 205th TSB honored another Soldier for meritorious service while deployed to Afghanistan.

Two 205th TSB awardees, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Anderson of Muncie, Ind., and Ohio native Staff Sgt. Justin Harris of the 3-338th Training Support Battalion were honored for providing assistance to local civilians trapped inside their vehicles after a car-wreck the morning of July 19.

The Soldiers encountered the two-car wreck while driving into Camp Atterbury for work that morning. Both vehicles were laying in a large ditch on the side of the road on Rt. 252, west of Edinburgh, Ind. They responded quickly, noticing a fire building in one vehicle. They rushed to the aid of the woman trapped inside.

Due to the severe damage to the vehicle, Harris used his sleeve to clear the broken glass from her driver’s side window. Anderson and Harris pulled the woman out of the vehicle and drug her to safety.

They then moved to the other vehicle. Harris used his hands to apply pressure to lacerations on the drivers head and stabilized her neck. Anderson worked to secure the passenger. When firefighters and emergency medical technicians arrived at the scene, Anderson and Harris provided assistance in removing the doors of the wrecked vehicle, extracting the victims and securing them to stretchers.

“They didn’t hesitate, they made a decision and took action,” said Col. Timothy Newsome, commander of the 205th TSB and presenter of the awards. “They did a quick analysis, figured out what was required and they took action. That’s the thing that makes all American Soldiers the world’s best Soldiers; the fact that we don’t wait to take action.”

The three victims of the wreck have all been released from the hospital and are at home recovering.

“Had it not been for the efforts that morning of Sgt. Jeff Anderson and Sgt. Justin Harris, honestly and truthfully, I’m not sure if I could have been able to stand here and tell you that those patients are alive and well,” said Amity Fire Protection Chief Jackie Brockman who awarded Anderson and Harris with a plaque to show his appreciation. “Many people drove by the scene of that accident that morning and didn’t stop. These two stopped. And they got into the mud with us.”

Anderson and Harris were awarded the Army Commendation Medal for “rendering assistance and quick valiant action so save life and limb by selflessly assisting others in a time of need.”

“It’s not about an award,” said Anderson. “It’s about doing the right thing. It just happened that we were in there at the right time and able to help. We would do the same thing a million times over again.”

The Iowa National Guard Soldiers, currently wrapping up their training at Camp Atterbury to deploy to Afghanistan and one Soldier from 1-335th TSBn, 205th TSB headquartered at Camp Atterbury were also recognized for responding to the aid of the local populace while off duty.

While on an authorized pass from training, these five Soldiers attended the NASCAR Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Speedway. Leaving the race, they witnessed a police officer struck by a speeding vehicle near the intersection of 16th Street and Rochester Avenue.

The Soldiers sprang into action. First on the scene was Camp Atterbury’s Sgt. 1st Class Benton Gill. He began securing the scene and assessing the situation. Shortly after, Spc. Daniel Kersbergen, a military police officer and civilian EMT from Sheldon, Iowa, arrived on the scene and assessed the officer’s vitals. Fellow Soldiers, Chemical Sergeant Staff Sgt. Eric Pugh, and Military Policemen Sgt. Forrest Shady, Spc. Martin Rustvold and Spc. Nathaniel Wunch directed traffic, ensuring the safety of the downed Indianapolis police officer.

The team stood by, providing assistance until police back-up and ambulance arrived.

After several hours of surgery, the police officer, 24-year-old Travis Williams, should recover according to Homeland Security Division Commander Michael Bates.

For their actions that day, the Army Commendation Medal was awarded to Sgt. 1st Class Benton Gill and the Indiana Commendation Medal was awarded to Iowa National Guard Soldiers Staff Sgt. Eric Pugh, Sgt. Forrest Shady, Spc. Daniel Kersbergen, Spc. Martin Rustvold and Spc. Nathaniel Wunch.

“They were all very calm and collected,” recalled Pugh. “They took care of business with what they had, which wasn’t very much, and they did a good job. Nobody hesitated. Everybody did what they could do, what they should do.”

Additionally, Sgt. 1st Class Richard C. Storer of 1-335 TSBn was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritoriously distinguishing himself while deployed to Afghanistan as a sergeant-in-charge of a counter-improvised explosive device team from May 2, 2009 through March 31 of this year. This was his second Bronze Star Medal.

Newsome said that he wasn’t surprised about the action these Soldiers took.

“However, that lack of surprise does not diminish my pride,” said Newsome. “I think the [community] is proud of the Citizen-Soldiers walking around out there in this uniform who have the drive to take action without having to be told, take the initiative and do the right thing.