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FORT STEWART, Ga. (9/25/2012) – Shane Coleman and Eric Dukes
received the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Sept. 25, at Fort
Stewart for saving the lives of two Marne family members in June.
Col. (P) John Hort, the commanding general
for 3rd Infantry Division - Rear, addresses the crowd during a
presentation of the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal to Shane
Coleman (third from left) and Eric Dukes (fifth from left) on
Sept.25, 2012 at Fort Stewart. The medals were awarded for saving
two Army family members from drowning at St. Simons Island in June.
Photo by Army Spc. Sarah Bailey |
The medals were presented on behalf of Maj. Gen. Robert
“Abe” Abrams, the 3rd Infantry Division commander, by Col.
(P) John Hort, the commanding general for 3rd Infantry
Division - Rear and Col. Kimo Gallahue, the commander of the
4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The medals
recognize Coleman and Dukes heroic efforts to save
Christiana and Samuel LeBlanc, the children of Staff Sgt.
Calvin LeBlanc, from drowning off St. Simons Island. The two
men swam out to the children after they called for help
while swimming with their father. Sadly, Staff Sgt. LeBlanc
did not survive.
Hort told the soldiers, family and
friends gathered for the presentation that as a former life
guard he was proud of the young men and very grateful they
took action to save the lives of Marne family members. He
also presented them with 3rd ID coins, a traditional token
of appreciation given by Army commanders for excellent
performance.
Gallahue, LeBlanc's brigade commander,
also thanked the young men for their actions and for giving
the unit an opportunity to show their gratitude by
presenting them with the medals.
Coleman and Dukes, both
of Brunswick, expressed their humility and gratitude for the
medals during a lunch reception that followed the awards
presentation. They said they appreciated everything the 3rd
ID had done for them.
“Thanks for the awards
presented to my son Shane Coleman. We will always cherish
them and the ceremony was very outstanding and the food was
great,” wrote Yolanda Harrison on the 4th IBCT's Facebook
page after the ceremony.
Certificates of
appreciation, signed by Maj. Gen. Abrams and Command Sgt.
Maj. Edd Watson, who are deployed to Afghanistan, were also
presented to Jerry Youngblood and Trish Schaffer, volunteers
with the Glynn County search and rescue team, for their
contributions to the search and recovery efforts for
LeBlanc.
Jay Wiggins, Glynn County Emergency
Management Agency director, attended the presentation and
said he was very proud of these volunteers. He also thanked
the 3rd ID for taking the time to recognize them for their
efforts.
The outstanding civilian service medal is
the third-highest honor the U.S. Army can bestow on a
private citizen. It is awarded for outstanding service that
makes a substantial contribution or is of significance to
the major command and is only awarded by a major general or
above.
By Army Capt. Matthew Fontaine
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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