POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - Two Missouri National Guard Citizen-Soldiers earned the title Citizen-Heroes after being caught on videotape while completing a daring rescue of a 93-year-old woman on the swollen Black River Tuesday.
"Today is the reason why I signed up for the Guard," said Spc. Junior Bombard. "I knew one of these days I'd be needed like today, and sure enough, it happened."
Bombard and Army Sgt. Tim Bridges, both of the 1138th Military Police Company, located in West Plains and Springfield, were supporting local authorities when they received an emergency call at 9 a.m. about an elderly lady that had attempted to cross a water-covered Highway 53.
"We weren't there to be heroes," said Bridges, who was serving on his first state emergency duty. "We were just doing our jobs."
The two Citizen-Soldiers worked with a winch cable as a safety line and teamed up to save the citizen. The dramatic scene was caught on tape by a Butler County Deputy Sheriff, Bob Larkins, who assisted from the shore.
The video can be seen at the Missouri National Guard Facebook page and the Missouri Guard YouTube page.
"Our reaction was a combination of our training and natural instinct," Bridges said. "We knew immediately that we needed to act quickly, it feels awesome to know we were able to save a life today."
The two Citizen-Heroes are mobilized as part of the Missouri National Guard flood response efforts in southeast Missouri.
Gov. Jay Nixon mobilized the Missouri Guard on April 25, and there are currently more than 760 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen supporting flood response missions.
"Nothing makes you feel as good as being able to help your neighbors in Missouri," said Army 1st Lt. Monte Davault, commander of the 1138th MP Company.
Bombard has been a part of several water rescues during this state emergency duty, but this one was the most exciting by far.
"That current was moving," Bombard said. "It was just one of those deals where we were in the right spot at the right time."
The woman was evaluated by local Emergency Medical Services personnel and released.
Missouri National Guard members are responding quickly to changing conditions in the Southeast Missouri region.
Missouri counties, Butler, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard, are all engaged in the flood response efforts.
Missions in flood response include security, sandbagging, evacuation support, levee monitoring, route reconnaissance, traffic control, support to first responders and door-to-door safety checks.