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Soldier Saves Three, Receives Highest Non-Combat Award
(July 29, 2010) | 
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Lt. Gen. John Sterling awards Chief Warrant
Officer Clifford Bauman the Soldier's Medal at
Fort Monroe, Va., July 23, 2010. Bauman was
awarded the medal for his selfless service which
saved three lives in October. Photo by Staff
Sgt. Andrew H. Owen |
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FORT MONROE, Va. (ANS, July 26, 2010) -- A Virginia Army National
Guard Soldier serving an active-duty tour with the U.S. Army Training and
Doctrine Command was awarded the Soldier's Medal at Fort Monroe July 23 for his
actions that resulted in saving the lives of three men following a boating
accident in the Chesapeake Bay.
Lt. Gen. John E. Sterling, deputy chief of staff for U.S. Army TRADOC, presented
Chief Warrant Officer Clifford Bauman the medal during a presentation ceremony
attended by Bauman's wife, father, and friends and coworkers at Morelli
Auditorium on the Hampton base.
"This is a very auspicious occasion. This is my first-ever
opportunity to participate in an award ceremony for the
Soldier's Medal," Sterling said. "It's a big event. It's a
very significant event, and |
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we need to take notice of it." |
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The Army has many awards and medals it bestows upon Soldiers for heroism during
battle and many recognizing Soldiers for outstanding work performed in the field
and in garrison, but the Soldier's Medal is the highest award a Soldier can
receive for heroism not directly related to combat.
"We have lots of awards for and recognitions that we do for valor in the face of
the enemy, but from time-to-time there is an opportunity for a Soldier to use
the skills that he has ... in a life-saving event that doesn't necessarily
involve actions in front of the enemy," Sterling said.
Bauman was heralded for his swift actions that saved three men Oct. 3, 2009.
Although one man died at the scene, Bauman's quick action and years of Army
training gave him the tools he needed to save the other three men.
"With all of the training our Soldiers receive, it's only natural in a situation
where life and death was at hand that Chief Bauman stepped in," said Chief
Warrant Officer Eddie Whitt, command chief warrant officer of the Virginia
National Guard and a mentor to Bauman. "His actions speak highly of the Virginia
National Guard Warrant Officer Corps and the Virginia National Guard itself."
After witnessing a barge collide with a small boat in the Chesapeake Bay, Bauman
immediately began to radio for help as he piloted his craft toward the accident.
Upon reaching the scene, he realized the injured fishermen were unable to swim.
He acted with complete disregard for his own safety, grabbing several life vests
and diving into the water, according to the award citation.
Swimming through water contaminated by an oil slick, he reached one fisherman
and immediately began CPR after finding him lying motionless and face down in
the water. After bringing the unconscious man to another boat, Bauman then swam
to the sinking fishing boat where the other three fishermen were struggling to
stay alive.
Over the next 40 minutes, he helped each fisherman in turn put on a life vest
and aided them as they swam to the safety of the dry boat. | |
By Navy Patrick Buffett
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Army News Service
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