A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Soldier was presented the Soldier's Medal, Sept. 4, for his selfless act of heroism early this year.
Maj. Adam J. Czekanski, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District was presented the Soldier's Medal by USACE South Pacific Division Commander Brig. Gen. Mark Toy, for placing placed himself in imminent danger to help a fellow commuter who had fallen onto the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) tracks in front of an oncoming train, the highest U.S. Army Award given to Soldiers for non combat valor.
Czekanski, a native of Silver Creek, N.Y., who currently resides in Moraga, was on his way to work, arriving at the BART Orinda Rail Station platform, Jan. 24; he saw a light flashing indicating the San Francisco-bound commuter train he takes to his office was arriving at the station.
"As I was stepping off the escalator onto the platform, I saw a man lean forward and fall onto the tracks … I looked around and others saw the person fall as well," said the 37-year-old soldier. "No one moved, so I yelled, 'stop the train' and threw my backpack to the ground and jumped onto the tracks, waving my arms to get the train operators attention."
"I saw a person in danger who was unable to help himself. So, I helped him because, to me, it was the right thing to do," he said. "If it were me on the tracks I wouldn't want people standing idle hoping the train will stop in time."
According to BART Police reports, Monique Marshall was operating the train as it approached the Orinda Station from the north. She told police that she "saw a black jacket fall onto the track from the platform" and depressed the emergency stop button and brought the train to rest. Marshall realized that there were two persons on the trackway and the "jacket" was actually a person who was lying on his back -- now under the lip of the platform.
With the lights flashing the trains approach and the BART patron lying motionless on the tracks, Czekanski, fearing that the train wouldn't stop in time, said, "the fallen rider looked like he was in imminent danger," so he jumped onto the tracks and pulled the unconscious man under the lip of the platform … noticing his eyes were closed and he had a gash where his head had struck a rail during the fall.
Once the train had stopped, Czekanski yelled for someone to call 911 and administered first aid, ensuring his airways were clear, turning him on his side and evaluating the bloody gash on his head caused from his fall onto the tracks. Another rider jumped onto the tracks to assist until first responders placed the injured passenger, Adrian Malagon, onto a stretcher for transport to John Muir hospital.
Malagon told BART police, that he only remembers regaining consciousness in the ambulance and nothing prior to his fall onto the tracks. BART is the fifth busiest heavy rail transit system in the United States with an average of 670,000 passengers weekly.
Asked how his military training might have helped him respond to this emergency situation, the military engineer explained, "a lot of military training focuses on making quick decisions ... I'm sure it helped."
Czekanski's quick decision to jump onto the tracks, wave down the train and pull a fellow passenger to safety while selflessly placing him in harm's way demonstrates he serves the people of the United States and lives the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.
"I just did what I thought was right," he said. "I would hope someone would do the same for me."
Czekanski, a graduate of Cornell who was commissioned through the university's ROTC program has served three combat tours, one in Iraq with the 44th Engineer Bn., 2nd Bde., 2nd Infantry Division in 2004-2005 and two in Afghanistan; one with the 10th Mountain Division and the other as the battalion operations officer/executive officer with the 4th Special Troops Bn., 4th Bde., 4th Infantry Division.
"We recognize a true hero," San Francisco District Commander Lt. Col. John C. Morrow told the crowd of over 75 colleagues gathered for the ceremony. "Major Czekanski is a hero because of what he did back in January of this year a lot of people would not have done. He had a split second to make a life and death decision, risking his own life to save a total strangers life at the BART station in Orinda, Calif. It doesn't get any better than that."
Toy explained that this was the first time in his 27-year military career to see a Soldier's Medal presented. So rare is this award that over the past few decades more Silver Stars have been awarded than Soldier's Medals.
"What would you do in a similar circumstance?" Toy asked those gathered at the presentation. "What would you do if you saw a man in trouble, if you saw a man unconscious on the train tracks and you knew that the only way to save this man is to risk your own life? What would you do?"
"Luckily, Adam Czekanski knew what to do," he said. "What he did is an incredible act of heroism as he jumped in front of the train risking his own life to pull the man to safety and provided first aid until first responders from the Orinda Fire Department arrived. I'm really, really proud of you Adam and honored to present you this award. In the South Pacific Division we are about 'Building Strong and Taking Care of People.'" Toy said. "And taking care of people is also about taking care of your fellow man."
While thanking the current division and district commanders for their support, he also expressed his appreciation to the former division and district commanders - Brig. Gen. C. David Turner and Lt. Col. (P) John K. Baker, who recommended him for the award.
Czekanski, who has been awarded three Bronze Star medals and a Purple Heart medal during his 16-year military career, also thanked his parents, Mike and Diane Czekanski, who live in Sheridan, N.Y., for raising him with a strong faith, values that emphasized hard work, humility, selflessness and compassion -- "all key components that make a good citizen and being a good person," he said.
In addition to being an engineer, deputy commander and Soldier with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Major Czekanski is a San Francisco District hero.
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