By Sgt. Chris A. Durney
Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs |
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 31, 2006 — To Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Haines of Hope, Ark., being presented the nation's highest awards for non-combat related bravery is a source of pride for his whole unit, and not just himself.
Haines is a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard's Company A, 1-153rd Infantry of the 39th Brigade Combat Team. He thinks that any one of his fellow Guard soldiers is capable of the same level of bravery that earned him the Soldier's Medal. "This is for all of you," he said to his unit after Arkansas State Sen. Percy Malone pinned the impressive medal on his uniform. "I know all of your characters and I know that if any one of you were in my place at the time, you would have done the same." Haines received the medal at a ceremony May 20 in the Prescott High School auditorium in Prescott, Ark., where the unit is based. He earned the honor for his actions in the aftermath of a car bomb explosion at a military checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq, May 6, 2004, while he was deployed with the 39th.
After getting word of the detonation, Haines (then a staff sergeant) led his squad to the scene and quickly secured the site. Disregarding his own safety, Haines dove into a burning vehicle to extract an Iraqi citizen who was seriously injured and on fire. Haines pulled the person away from the
"This is for all of you. I know all of your characters and I know that if any one of you were in my place at the time, you would have done the same."
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Haines |
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raging fire and carried him 50 yards to safety before immediately administering medical aid. He transferred the citizen to more qualified medical personnel, ultimately saving the man's life, and then went right back to work, directing his troops and extending the area perimeter. Malone also read an Arkansas State Senate Citation officially recognizing Haines' bravery and heroism, and the honor he brings upon the state.
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| U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Haines of Hope, Ark., (right) stands with Maj. Gen. Don C. Morrow, the adjutant general of Arkansas, and Arkansas State Sen. Percy Malone after receiving the Soldier's Medal, the nation's highest award for non-combat heroism. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Chris A. Durney |
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Maj. Gen. Don C. Morrow, the adjutant general of Arkansas, also took a few minutes to thank Haines for his selfless act. "He is indeed an outstanding soldier and he is indeed a brave man," said Morrow. "He deserves our thanks and our respect for the terrific job he did that day under very trying circumstances."
The Soldier’s Medial is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States, or of a friendly foreign nation, who distinguishes himself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The medal was established by Congress in 1926.
"I'm very honored and proud to have this award," Haines said as his wife Linda, daughter Emily and son Austin stood by his side at a reception following the ceremony. "But, it wasn't just me, you know, my whole squad was there and they were doing just as important work. So, for them and the entire Guard, this is an honor."
Approximately 3,000 Arkansas soldiers were deployed with the 39th and the 1st Cavalry Division during the 18-month mobilization in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade returned to the state in the spring of 2005.
Over 800 Arkansas soldiers and airmen are currently mobilized to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, with that number growing to 1,700 by the end of July. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Arkansas National Guard has mobilized nearly 8,000 of its 10,000 servicemembers in support of the global war on terrorism. |
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