Tennessee National Guard Soldiers awarded for heroism

Photo By Master Sgt. Robin Brown | Pictured left to right are the four Soldier’s Medal recipients. Lt. Col. Hunter L. Belcher, a Lebanon, Tenn., native; Maj. William J. Crawford, a Henderson, Tenn., native; Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher T. Crawford, native of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; and Sgt. 1st Class Fred C. Mize, III, a native of Strawberry Plains, Tenn., (all current or former members of the Tennessee National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command), received the award for actions taken during life threatening events they bravely acted upon in recent months.  

NASHVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES

09.03.2014

Story by Niki Gentry 

Tennessee National Guard Public Affairs Office

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Four Tennessee National Guard Soldiers were awarded the Soldier’s Medal by Maj. Gen. Max Haston, Tennessee’s adjutant general, in a ceremony at the Headquarters, Tennessee National Guard. The Soldier’s Medal is the highest peacetime award given to a Soldier for acts of heroism that are not directly related to conflict with an armed enemy. The Soldier must have placed their own life at risk while saving another person to earn the award.

Haston presented Lt. Col. Hunter L. Belcher, a Lebanon, Tennessee, native, Maj. William J. Crawford, a Henderson, Tennessee, native, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher T. Crawford, native of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, and Sgt. 1st Class Fred C. Mize, III, a native of Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, (all current or former members of the Tennessee National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command) the award for actions taken during life-threatening events they bravely acted upon in recent months.

“Today, the Tennessee National Guard recognized the deeds of four of our own, who clearly demonstrated that heroes walk among us,” said Haston. “These Soldiers are the epitome of the ‘citizen-Soldier’ and are true Tennessee Volunteers. Each risked life and limb to save others. No greater deed can be done. I am proud to serve with each of these outstanding Soldiers.”

Belcher, Maj. Crawford and Command Sgt. Maj. Crawford received the award for their actions during an active shooter incident that occurred when an assailant entered the Millington Armory trying to kill Soldiers in the facility on Oct. 24, 2013. Belcher and Maj. Crawford were wounded by gunfire and continued to subdue the shooter, while Sgt. Maj. Crawford assisted in the physical restraint of the assailant. Placing their lives at risk, the members’ conduct was above and beyond the call of duty that met the strict criteria for the award of the Soldier’s Medal.

Mize observed a severe collision between two vehicles on Feb. 10, 2013. He was passing by the scene and took action by crawling into a burning vehicle and rendered life-saving assistance to three injured occupants while others assisted in care of victims in a second vehicle. His quick thinking and disregard for personal safety while rendering aid to the accident victims merits the award of the Soldier’s Medal.

The four Soldiers were awarded in the presence of friends, family and co-workers. They also received a shadow box with the award certificate and citation to include a duplicate Soldier’s Medal mounted in the center.

• Date Taken: 09.03.2014
• Date Posted: 09.04.2014 13:27
• Story ID: 141137
• Location: NASHVILLE, TN, US
• Hometown: HENDERSON, TN, US
• Hometown: LAWRENCEBURG, TN, US
• Hometown: LEBANON, TN, US
• Hometown: STRAWBERRY PLAINS, TN, US