NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Four Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers were recently awarded the Soldier's Medal by Army Maj. Gen. Max Haston, the adjutant general of the Tennessee National Guard, in a ceremony here. The Soldier's Medal is the highest peacetime award given to a Soldier for acts of heroism not directly related to conflict with an armed enemy. The Soldier must have placed his or her own life at risk while saving another person to earn the award.
Haston presented Lt. Col. Hunter L. Belcher, Maj. William J. Crawford, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher T. Crawford, and Sgt. 1st Class Fred C. Mize III the award for actions taken during life threatening events they acted upon in 2013.
"Today the Tennessee National Guard recognized the deeds of four of our own, who clearly demonstrated that heroes walk among us," said Haston during the ceremony. "These Soldiers are the epitome of the ‘Citizen-Soldier' and are true Tennessee Volunteers. Each risked life and limb to save others. No greater deed can be done. I am proud to serve with each of these outstanding Soldiers."
Belcher, Maj. Crawford and Command Sgt. Maj. Crawford received the award for their actions during an active shooter incident occurred when an assailant entered a Tennessee Army Guard armory in October 2013 with the intent of harming or killing Soldiers in the facility. Belcher and Maj. Crawford were wounded by gunfire and continued to subdue the shooter, while Command Sgt. Maj. Crawford assisted in the physical restraint of the assailant.
Mize observed a severe collision between two vehicles in 2013. He was passing by the scene and took action by crawling into a burning vehicle and rendered life saving assistance to three injured occupants while others assisted in care of victims in a second vehicle.