FORT MEADE, Md. - For rescuing a driver trapped in a burning vehicle, Staff Sgt. Jeremy Adkins and officer candidate Tony Genovese, both of Chicago, were awarded the Soldier's Medal during the Chicago Bears "Salute to Service" game Nov. 27 at Chicago's Soldier Field.
"These two Soldiers acted in the best traditions of the Illinois Army National Guard when they, without hesitation, placed themselves in harm's way to help a fellow citizen," said Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, assistant adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. "They are the embodiment of what it means to be a Soldier, and I commend them for their heroic actions."
On May 11, while traveling together westbound on Roosevelt Road in Chicago, the men witnessed a car spin out of control, push another vehicle into oncoming traffic, spiral through the air, and come to a stop in a pool of its own oil and gasoline.
Adkins pulled his truck up to the accident site. He asked the passengers in the least damaged vehicle if they needed medical attention and assured them that help was on the way. Meanwhile, Genovese directed traffic away from the wreck.
After confirming the relative safety of the occupants of the first vehicle, Adkins rushed to the other vehicle, which was smoking heavily.
"Tony and I sat the passenger of the wrecked vehicle down, ensured he was cognizant, and did a quick evaluation before noticing the driver was still trapped in the vehicle," Adkins said. "We sprinted over to try to open the doors, but they were locked. We saw the car was in flames, and the driver was completely unconscious."
Realizing they were standing in a pool of oil and gas that surrounded the vehicle, Adkins said, they knew they had to act fast.
"Moments before the flames penetrated the firewall, we pulled the driver out, and supported his neck while we dragged him approximately 20 yards to safety," Adkins said. "By this time, emergency personnel [had] arrived on scene. The driver of the vehicle made it out of that situation with a few minor bumps and scrapes."
Adkins said that both he and Genovese relied on their Army training to respond to the situation.
"We had plenty of basic emergency medical training and experience between us, courtesy of the U.S. Army's Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Combat Lifesaver training programs, as well as real-world experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan," he sad.
Staff Sgt. Jeremy Adkins felt call to serve his nation
Feeling the call to serve his country during wartime, Adkins signed up at a Chicago recruiting station in November 2005 to serve in the Illinois Army National Guard. He is a section leader with A Troop, 2/106th Cavalry and serves alongside Soldiers he calls "some of the best human beings on the planet."
Adkins was born outside the city of Chicago. He graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School in Brookfield, Illinois, in 2005. He returns to his high school every year for Veterans Day to share with students what he has learned during his time in the Army.
His father is a U.S. Postal Service employee. His mother worked for Amtrak for 15 years and recently returned to school to complete a bachelor's degree in psychology.
Adkins' brother joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 2002, and both brothers were deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. They serve together in the same Illinois Army National Guard brigade. His brother is a staff sergeant with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Adkins, who is of Mexican and European heritage, is proud to call Chicago his home. "This city takes my breath away every day," he said. "I live right in the heart of the city, just a few blocks from the Loop, the Magnificent Mile, and a few miles from the countless amazing neighborhoods of the city."
A self-proclaimed gym rat, Adkins said that being in the gym gives him a chance to test his mettle every day. He credits the Army for giving him the confidence to question his limitations.
"I work until I feel like quitting, then push myself a little bit more, just to keep reminding myself how much more I'm capable of than my mind would have me believe," he said.
Adkins' favorite quote about leadership comes from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who defined leadership as "the art of getting someone else to do something that you want done because he wants to do it, not because your position of power can compel him to do it ... "
"If you feel someone isn't quite responding to your leadership approach, adjust yourself before you blame your subordinate," Adkins explained.
As a civilian, Atkins has formed his own technology company that develops software for restaurants. "The Army gave me both the confidence and the drive to chase my entrepreneurship dreams in full force," he said.
Officer candidate Genovese enlisted in high school
Genovese joined the Illinois Guard in his junior year of high school. Until August, he had served as a recruiter. At the time of the rescue, he was a sergeant first class. He currently serves as full-time battalion training officer in the Chicago Infantry Battalion headquarters and hopes to receive a commission as a second lieutenant in March.
"Geno" was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, and grew up in Naperville. He graduated from Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville in 2002. He later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2013. Having lived in Chicago since 2005, he considers the city his home.
"The best and worst part about Chicago is our sports teams," Genovese said. "When they are on, the city is alive, and people are happy. There is nothing like Chicago during hockey playoffs."
According to Genovese, Chicago is a very military-friendly city. "There are not any military bases around Chicago," he said. "So when Chicagoans see someone in uniform they will almost always thank us for our service or shake our hands."
Genovese said he always knew he wanted to serve in the military. "I always wanted to be a SEAL until I realized I am not much for the water," he said. "It was important to my family that I go to college, so I enlisted in the National Guard."
His mother is a receptionist at a doctor's office. His father is a Vietnam veteran. "He was the first member of his family to get a college degree and worked very hard so that my family would have a good life," Genovese said of his father. "He has always been there for all of us and has continued to be there for my sister and me into adulthood."
Friends aren’t surprised by heroism and selflessness
Genovese's co-worker, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pett, said he wasn't surprised when he learned that Genovese received the Soldiers Medal for saving a driver from a burning car. "Sacrifice, commitment, and integrity are the three best characteristics to describe his actions in life and while wearing the uniform," Pett said.
Sgt. 1st Class Blake. S. Schroedter served with both Genovese and Adkins from 2008 to 2009 in Afghanistan on a task force that provided training and combat support to Afghanistan National army and police.
"I've watched both men develop into professional Soldiers," he said. "They have dedicated their lives to the mission of supporting others through selfless acts such as ... deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and supporting natural disaster response efforts in Illinois."
Schroedter, who has known both men for more than 10 years and serves with Adkins, believes that it was this development of character that compelled the men to set their own safety aside to rescue a person in need.
"The military and Army National Guard are very fortunate to have both of these men within their ranks," he said.