From left to right: Col. J. Chesney, Sgt. Maj. Joseph Crandall, Trooper Jeff Cunningham with his wife Karen, and Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney Harris pose for a photo after Trooper Cunningham was presented with a Brigade Certificate of Appreciation and...

Sgt. Sheila Holifield

177th Armored Brigade Public Affairs

First Army Division East

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - Over 400 Soldiers and civilians gathered together at Camp Shelby to listen and learn from a veteran and fellow motorcycle rider's experience on a day he will never forget: June 19.

Jeff Cunningham, a motorcycle policeman with the Mississippi Highway Patrol and former trooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, was the guest speaker for First Army's 177th Armored Brigade Motorcycle Mentorship Program.

Cunningham, from New Albany, Miss. said June 19 was like any other day; typical.

"If you knew something bad was going to happen to you today, you would have never left the house," said Cunningham. "Well, had I known what was to happen, June 19 would have been a day I would have never left the house."

Cunningham said while on duty that day he was responding to the scene of an accident. He said he remembers everything that happened on his ride up to the point of him colliding with a van.

Cunningham said the most important thing you can do when riding are maintaining self-awareness.

"Keep your head on a swivel," he added. "Ride as if someone is going to kill you or as if the road is designed to kill you."

Trooper Cunningham sustained several injuries from his motorcycle accident; a broken leg, a compound fracture, a broken collarbone, broken ribs, a broken arm, neck, and a torn carotid artery in his neck.

Cunningham said a blood clot formed in his neck and saved his life.

"Anybody that has injuries like the ones that I did doesn't live, they usually bleed out," said Cunningham. "A nurse that was working on me said that God reached down from heaven and touched my neck that day."

While responding to the scene of the accident, Cunningham was driving at a speed of 43 miles per hour with his sirens sounding when a van pulled out in front of him.

Cunningham hopes that by sharing his experience, it will help people to slow down and stop and reflect.

"When we are out there on the road, we have to constantly be aware and we all need to slow down a little bit," said Cunningham. "And I am not just talking about speed; I am talking about your life."

Trooper Cunningham said that his family and the camaraderie of his team with the Mississippi Highway Patrol has been a key factor in his recovery.

It's been nearly five months since the accident in New Albany, Miss. and Trooper Cunningham said if he could crawl on a bike and ride today he would.

"I love to ride, to be able to forget my worries and just soak up God's country," said Cunningham. "I can't wait to get back out there."