|
Kirby HS Army JROTC Cadet Nominated For Medal Of Heroism
by Kyle Crawford
U.S. Army Cadet Command (Army ROTC)
January 8, 2023
Classes were dismissed for the day at Kirby
High School and freshman C’Azia Hamilton was outside waiting for her
mother. Hamilton is a Cadet in her school’s Army Junior Reserve
Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program, so staying after school is
nothing unusual. However, on November 30, 2022 ... gunshots rang out
from the Sonic Drive-In right next to the school.
Hamilton
saw people fleeing the area. Through the confusion and shock, she
recognized a friend limping towards the high school. Without
hesitation Hamilton ran to his aid and discovered he had been shot
multiple times.
|
Freshman C’Azia Hamilton, an Army JROTC Cadet at Kirby High School,
is nominated for the Medal of Heroism ... the highest
Department of the Army medal exclusively awarded to ROTC and
JROTC Cadets. Hamilton provided first aid to a fellow
student who was shot right next to their school in Memphis, TN
on November 30, 2022. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from
photo provided by Kirby High School Army JROTC taken on
January 4, 2023.)
|
“There was a wound on his leg,” Hamilton
said. “I just knew instantly to use my belt to stop the bleeding.”
Instinct took over, Hamilton was in her Army JROTC uniform
that day and used her belt to set a tourniquet. While providing
first aid she called for bystanders to call 911. Hamilton then
identified a second wound in his abdomen and applied pressure to
stop the bleeding.
She stayed with her classmate as medical
personnel arrived and continued lifesaving care. Justin Cupples, a
firefighter and an advanced EMT with the Memphis Fire Department was
with the crew that responded to the scene.
“When we
approached where the victim was, there was a young lady that was
next to the patient’s side,” Cupples said. “A bandage had been
applied to the patient’s left leg where the gunshot wound was…This
young lady stepped up and helped the gunshot victim…If not for her
courageous efforts to help this person, the outcome could’ve been
greatly different.”
“Being in the fire and EMS service for
almost seven years, often times, you do not come across a citizen so
willing to help.”
Hamilton’s mother, RaShondralynn Hamilton,
was one of the first to learn about the actions of her daughter.
“To hear her name and ‘shot’ in the same sentence I was shocked,
I was devastated…,” RaShondralynn said. “And to then hear that she
actually helped him… I’m still speechless to this day.”
Reflecting on what happened, Hamilton encourages others not to be a
bystander when help is needed.
“If you see someone in need,
don’t hesitate to help because you may save a life,” Hamilton said.
Master Sgt. (Ret.) Lonnie Coleman, the senior Army instructor
for Kirby High School Army JROTC nominated Hamilton for the Medal of
Heroism, the highest Department of the Army medal exclusively
awarded to Army ROTC and JROTC Cadets. The medal is presented to
those who perform an act of heroism where the "acceptance of danger
and extraordinary responsibilities, exemplifying praiseworthy
fortitude and courage” are involved.
Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.)
Kenneth Fagans, Hamilton’s Army JROTC instructor, is proud to have a
student like her in the program. Her ability to take initiative has
impacted the school and its community.
“Although she’s a
student in everybody’s class nobody refers to her as that science
student, that math student, they all refer to her as that Cadet,”
Fagans said.
Army JROTC is a leadership and citizenship
program for high school students at more than 1,700 schools. It is
an elective course with several opportunities for students to grow
through community service and extracurricular activities.
Kirby High School’s Army JROTC program has over 100 students.
Coleman says he strives to create a safe and educational learning
environment with an emphasis on teaching life skills.
“We
always try to tell the students that we may teach you something
today and you may not use it,” Coleman said. “You may think it’s not
important, but then one day it’s going to become very important to
you.”
More Heroes
Honoring The Fallen |
Don't Weep For Me |
Remember The Fallen |
Tears For Your Fallen |
Our Wounded
Our Heroes,
America's Best | America's Greatest
Heroes | Uncommon Valor
Our Valiant Troops |
I Am The One
|
Brave Young
|
Answering The Call
|
The U.S. Marines |
Brave Blue
Veterans |
Citizens Like Us |
Vietnam War Veterans
|
Spouses Serve Too
Americans |
We The People
|
Answering The Call |
One Nation Under God |
Give Thanks
Love and Pride of USA
|
National Will |
God and Country |
America, My Home!
|
|
