Now retired Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Farrell, former operations noncommissioned officer in charge, Special Troops Battalion, 1st TSC, native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was presented the medal by the STB Commander Lt. Col. Brett Ayvazian and Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Henderson at the Veterans of Foreign Affairs to an audience of more than 150 attendees and leaders of state and local government, 20 Oct., 2016.
“His act exemplifies the Army Values: Personal Courage and Selfless Service,” said Ayvazian. “The command felt that we needed to make sure we said thank you to him in front of his family, friends and his hometown.”
On Aug. 18, 2016, Fort Bragg and the Fayetteville area were under a weather advisory due to roads being flooded by heavy rain. While driving home, Farrell observed a vehicle traveling on Highway 87 north of Spring Lake, North Carolina. The driver lost control of the vehicle and became airborne, flipping on its side striking a telephone pole.
Farrell disregarded his own safety and instinctively rushed to the car after being informed by the driver that her newborn son was trapped in the back of the overturned car.
Despite the looming danger of gas and the arcing power lines, Farrell entered through the broken rear window and pulled the child to safety.
Not stopping there, Farrell retrieved a first-aid kit from his vehicle, treated the driver’s injuries and secured the scene until first responders, Spout Springs Fire Department, arrived on scene.
Without notice, Farrell had left the scene to get home to his family.
“I’m truly humbled, but reaction is something we all do as Soldiers,” said Farrell. “Proper reaction is achieved through repetitive training.”
The 1st TSC in cooperation with the local Tulsa community both contributed to making this an exceptional and meaningful event.
“When Joshua contacted us and told us he was putting together an event in our community for his presentation of the Soldier’s Medal, we immediately seized the opportunity to put our arms around our Tulsa native and render him the honor and respect he deserves,” said Katrina Fisher, Outreach program specialist, Tulsa Veteran’s Center and Army combat veteran.
The Tulsa Veteran’s Center plays an important part of working with veterans and their transition back into the local communities.
“After spending 20 years of active duty service, I have witnessed first hand that when you come back into the community your entire routine changes,” said Sany Oxford, office manager, TVC, a veteran of 20 years of service and the 2013 Oklahoma Woman Veteran of the year. “Your friends are different, the way you drive to work is different. So it’s very important their transition back into civilian life is more fluid. They need to feel welcomed.”
Farrell doesn’t consider his action heroic.
“I don’t feel that my actions warrant the title hero,” said Farrell. “But if that was my child trapped in the back of that car, the people who rescued my child would be my hero.”