JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Spc. Jacqueline Walker, a Raider Ready Reserve training room noncommissioned officer in charge with 472nd Signal Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, was named Bayonet Soldier of the Month at an award ceremony held in the brigade command area April 9.
Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, 7th ID commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Delbert D. Byers, 7th ID command sergeant major, presented Walker with a plaque and "Bayonet" Division coin for her life-saving action of administering CPR to a woman exhibiting signs of diabetic shock.
According to Walker, she was at the off-post residence of a fellow soldier a few days before Thanksgiving, preparing to step out for the evening. When the door was opened in answer to a knock, it revealed a frantic man trying to say that his friend was unconscious in the apartment across the hall.
"He couldn't really explain what was going on," said Walker, describing him as clearly overwhelmed.
While her friend helped make the call to 911, Walker investigated. In the tiny apartment, a woman lay unconscious on the floor, her skin colored purple, with another female trying to re-start her breathing.
"I tried explaining to her how to do it correctly, but she wasn't 'getting it,'" said Walker. "She was doing it too fast, so I took over at that point."
The comatose woman woke up a few minutes before the medics arrived on the scene.
Breathing on her own, her first words were, "What happened?"
"(Walker) represents the best of the division and is the epitome of a Bayonet soldier," said Lanza.
For her actions in applying combat life-saving skills and demonstrating that the "Raiders" - Ready, Accountable, Informed, Disciplined, Experts, Resilient, Soldiers of the brigade - are "Ready" both on and off duty, Walker also received a brigade coin from the R3 command team.
Born in Waterbury, Conn., and raised in New York City, Walker graduated from St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens and initially pursued a degree in psychology at St. Francis College, where she had received a full-ride basketball scholarship. After an injury ended her collegiate career and athletic scholarship after one year, she enlisted in the Army in 2009.
"I wanted to do something productive with my life. My brother was already in the military and he was so proud to serve his country. I wanted to follow that," Walker said.
Trained as a radio operator/maintainer, Military Occupational Specialty 25C, Walker aims to re-class to MOS 68W, health care specialist. In the future, she plans to finish her degree and become a registered nurse.
The 4th SBCT, 2nd ID is currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Raider Ready Reserve is organized, equipped and trained to execute rear detachment operations focused on maintaining soldier, family, training and equipment readiness that instill confidence in forward deployed commanders.
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