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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Selfless service and personal
courage are values instilled in Soldiers from day one. With a
person's life in jeopardy, a 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command
Soldier applied these values and made a decision that changed that
person's fate.
Spc. Amanda Dillard, Information Technology
Specialist, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade, was
presented the Soldier's Medal during a ceremony, here, March 6, 2015
at the Four Chaplain's Chapel.
Dillard, 26, a Newberg,
Oregon, native, received the prestigious award for her actions on
June 26, 2014.
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Spc. Amanda Dilliard, 62nd Medical Brigade, 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, is awarded the Soldier's Medal by Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, I Corps commanding general, during a ceremony March 6, 2015. Dilliard aided in the rescue of Andrew Klakken, who was involved in a car accident. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Diaz)
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“I was driving home from work when I noticed a vehicle
had gone off the road,” said Dillard “I pulled over and ran
to the vehicle.”
“With the assistance of other
bystanders, I crawled into the car with the victim and
checked the extent of his injuries,” said Dillard.
Andrew Klakken, a registered nurse at the Madigan Army
Medical Center, said he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed
his vehicle head on into a tree at 50 miles an hour.
“As I started to attempt to get out of the vehicle, I
heard a voice,” said Klakken, who is originally from
Spokane, Washington. “It was Amanda telling me not to move
and that help was on the way.”
Klakken had suffered
multiple injuries necessitating assistance.
“I was a
little stunned at first, but then I realized she was right,”
said Klakken “She kept reassuring me that help was on the
way.”
Dillard provided cervical spine stability for more than 30
minutes until medical professionals arrived.
“Had she not
been there to stabilize my neck I would be paralyzed and unable to
breathe on my own,” said Klakken.
Coming to Klakken's aid was
second nature for Dillard, who says she never hesitated.
“I
didn't think twice, I saw somebody in need and my first reaction was
to find a way to help him,” said Dillard “I was worried that the
vehicle would explode or engulf in flames before I could get him
help.”
“My training taught me to set aside nervousness and
take charge of the situation and my emotions,” said Dillard “I was
more confident in my knowledge of maintaining my composure,
regardless of my fear, to keep the victim as calm and cared for as
possible.”
Gary Barnes, Department of the Army policeman, was
the first officer on the scene of the accident. Barnes quickly
notified her chain of command after witnessing her actions and
learning the extent of the victim's injuries, he said.
“The
car was smoking and in danger of catching fire when I arrived on the
scene,” said Barnes “I asked Amanda if she wanted to stay in there
with victim and she insisted that she did.”
“I hear a lot of
people questioning our Soldiers nowadays,” said Barnes “But if any
of the Soldiers are a small reflection of what Amanda is, we're in
pretty good hands.”
“It was a great honor to receive this
award but I was just the person who crawled into the vehicle,” said
Dillard “He was the one who fought to live, recover, and keep his
light heart.”
“Heroes aren't based on a single action, heroes
are based on their every day actions of helping others and going out
of their way to be unselfish,” said Dillard “Heroic actions should
be recognized and heroes should be honored, I hope I am seen as a
hero beyond my actions of that day.”
Dillard is scheduled to
become medically retired April 12, 2015. She plans to move to Texas
and open an animal rescue shelter with her husband.
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Wayne Diaz
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
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