Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll commended six soldiers at Fort Stewart, Georgia, on Thursday for their actions during an active-shooter incident that left multiple troops injured and briefly locked down one of the service’s highest-profile bases.
The soldiers were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for what Driscoll described as a combination of bravery, decisive action, and lifesaving medical care. The shooting unfolded Wednesday in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, prompting a rapid response from unit members who subdued the attacker and administered aid to the wounded before emergency personnel arrived.
“It will be a little bit before this moment hits you, and that’s OK,” Driscoll said, addressing the soldiers. “We are grateful for you, and we will stand by all of you as your colleagues recover and return to the unit.”
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Five soldiers were wounded in the attack and are in stable condition.
Among those recognized was Master Sgt. Justin Thomas, of Kingwood, Texas, a senior maintenance supervisor who helped restrain the shooter. Thomas joined the unit in March and, according to a service news release, remained calm and composed during the confrontation.
First Sgt. Joshua Arnold, a senior enlisted maintenance supervisor from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was credited with administering emergency aid to wounded personnel and helping coordinate their evacuation to medical facilities.
Staff Sgt. Melissa Taylor, a career counselor from Winter Haven, Florida, assisted in securing the scene and ensuring wounded soldiers were stabilized and transported for further treatment.
Two combat medics, Staff Sgt. Robert Pacheco, of Amsterdam, New York, and Sgt. Eve Rodarte, of El Centro, California, were recognized for providing critical medical care to the injured, actions officials say directly contributed to the survival of all those wounded.
Sgt. Aaron Turner, an automated logistical specialist from Farmington, New Mexico, played a central role in subduing the shooter. Turner, who arrived at the unit in October, physically restrained the assailant, preventing further casualties.
“They are the best among us in our country. They are the best among us in the Army,” Driscoll said. “They acted in a way that I think all of us hoped we would under fire, but they did. We are just so incredibly proud of them. We are so grateful for them.”
Authorities arrested suspected gunman Sgt. Quornelius Radford roughly 30 minutes after he entered his place of work and began firing on soldiers with a personally owned handgun. It’s unclear what the motive was.
Related: 5 Soldiers Wounded in Mass Shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia
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