Military personnel stationed at Fort Stewart intervened promptly, halting a gunman and preventing potential loss of life.
Heroic Soldiers Honored for Quick Response in Fort Stewart Shooting
Six soldiers from Fort Stewart in Georgia were honored with the Meritorious Service Medal for their brave actions during a shooting incident that occurred at the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area on Wednesday morning.
The gunman, identified as Automated Logistics Sgt. Quornelius Radford, opened fire at the base, wounding five other soldiers. The quick response of the honorees, Sgt. Aaron Turner, Master Sgt. Justin Thomas, Staff Sgt. Robert Pacheco, Sgt. Eve Rodarte, 1st Sgt. Joshua Arnold, and Sgt. Melissa Taylor, was credited with saving lives at one of the Army’s largest bases.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stated that one unarmed soldier ran at and tackled the gunman who was actively shooting. Another soldier, Sgt. Melissa Taylor, a trained combat medic and mom of three, provided aid to a wounded soldier by exposing his wound and applying pressure to stop the bleeding. 1st Sgt. Joshua Arnold was one of the soldiers who responded to the shooting and provided aid to wounded soldiers.
The motive for the shooting is not clear, but it involved Radford's co-workers and occurred at his "place of work." Radford, who has not previously deployed to combat, was arrested locally for a DUI, which was unknown to his chain of command until the shooting occurred. The gunman used his personal handgun, and he has been interviewed by Army investigators and is in custody.
Three of the five wounded soldiers have been released from the hospital on Wednesday, and the fourth soldier, a woman, may be released this weekend. The fifth soldier, also a woman, has a "longer road" to recovery, but doctors are hopeful for a full recovery. The quick actions of the soldiers to stop the bleeding saved the lives of the wounded soldiers, according to surgeons.
President Donald Trump stated that the nation is praying for the victims and their families, and that the perpetrator will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll made the presentation of the medals on behalf of the President and Defense Secretary. Having a personal gun on base is a violation, officials said on Thursday.
The shooting at Fort Stewart serves as a reminder of the bravery and quick thinking of our soldiers in times of crisis. These six soldiers demonstrated exceptional courage and selflessness in the face of danger, and their actions undoubtedly saved lives. The nation is grateful for their service and sacrifice.
[1] ABC News [2] CBS News [4] NBC News [5] New York Times
- The latest developments in the Fort Stewart shooting, a war-and-conflicts event, are being reported across prominent news outlets such as ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, New York Times, and General News networks.
- The shooting incident at Fort Stewart on Wednesday, along with the subsequent arrested of the gunman Quornelius Radford, is not only a crime-and-justice issue, but also raises questions about politics and the regulations regarding personal guns on military bases.
