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Courage In The Face Of Fire
(March 11, 2011) | 
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Daniel R. Clemens received the Army's Soldier Guardian Award on March 6, 2011 at the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade Reserve Station in Homewood, Illinois. Clemens is the first Soldier in the Army Reserve Soldier to receive this award for his actions in saving a woman's life while risking his own. |
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HOMEWOOD, Ill. (Mar. 7, 2011) -- Army civil affairs Reserve soldier
received a rare award for his actions in saving a woman's life.
Sgt. Daniel Clemens had been waiting in line at a local gas
station getting himself an energy drink when he heard a gun shot. “I
was honestly thinking that if the [shooter] saw me, I would be the
first target since I was in uniform, so I figured I would go see if
anyone had been shot, to see what I could do to help,” Clemens said.
Clemens is an Army Reserve civil affairs sergeant with the 308th
Civil Affairs Brigade in Homewood, Ill., and was getting ready for
their monthly battle assembly when he found himself inside the crime
scene after a shooting with a large caliber handgun on 301st North
Ridge Road in Minooka, Ill., making a choice that would change his
life and save another's.
Not only did Clemens risk his life
by running toward the gunfire, but in so doing put himself in a
situation to apply training he learned in the Army to save the
victims life. “I served six and a half years on active duty as an
infantryman, and I had practiced lifesaving skills a thousand
times,” Clemens said, who had since left active duty to join the
308th in August of 2009 as a Reserve soldier.
“We're very
proud of him obviously, and I think he's a model for the other
soldiers and citizens as well,” said 1st Sgt. Gregory Scott, the
308th first sergeant. |
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“I could see a pool of blood below her upper leg. I quickly checked for
an entrance and exit wound. Since I couldn't find an exit wound, I
started treating the heavy bleeding. I knew that pressure alone wasn't
going to keep her alive. At this point a trucker came up to help me, I
had asked him for his belt and I applied makeshift tourniquet to her
leg,” Clemens said.
Gerard Watkins, occupational health and
safety specialist for the 308th was a key advocate in pushing for the
award when he heard about what Clemens had done, “I felt that his
actions were not only very heroic, but also showcase the quality of
Noncommissioned Officers we have in the Army.” said Watkins.
On
Sunday, March 6, Clemens received the Army's Safety Guardian Award, a
rare award. Clemens is not only the first Soldier in the United States
Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), but
also in the entirety of the Army Reserve. The award reads, “Through
extraordinary actions, responded to a shooting incident involving a
woman who may have bled to death if not for his assistance.”
His
actions were also commended by the Minooka Fire Chief, Al Yancey, and
his lieutenant, Shift Commander Arnold R. Nolan who had been at the
scene.
Because the shooters whereabouts were unknown, the area
could not be cleared by local law enforcement, which in turn meant first
responders couldn't enter the scene. It was during this critical time
that Clemens was in action. “With quick action and disregard for his
safety Sgt. Clemens remained with the victim applying direct pressure
and remained there holding direct pressure to the victims wound until
fire department personnel arrived on scene and relived him,” said Yancey
in a written statement.
Clemens is honored to receive the award
but to him that‘s not the real reward, “I found out a month later [after
the incident] that she made a full recovery from the shooting. That's
all that matters to me, is that she's okay.” But perhaps the greater
reward goes to his parents, “We feel [the Army Reserves] has also helped
Daniel to be a better person, we are very proud of the young man he has
become; and we are so proud he was able to help the victim,” said his
mother, Susan Clemens. | |
Article and photo by Army SSgt. Felix Fimbres
U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)
Copyright 2011
Provided
through DVIDS
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