FORT BENNING, Ga., (Aug.26, 2015) --Sgt. 1st Class Nickolas Clarke recently received a Soldier's Medal for saving the lives of two men caught in a riptide off of Okaloosa Island, Florida, Oct. 8, 2014.
Clarke, who is a Ranger instructor with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Rudder, Florida, said receiving the award was a great honor.
"It feels good to receive the Soldier's Medal. I just happened to come across a situation and did what I thought was right. If you do what's true to your heart you can't go wrong," Clarke said.
Clarke was visiting Okaloosa Island Beach with his Family, when he noticed a man caught in a rip current being pulled out to sea. Another beachgoer swam out to rescue the man, but soon became caught in the rip current himself.
Clarke said he acted without hesitation.
"You don't think about it. You just do it. I had to do whatever I could to help the guys out," he said. " I'm glad I was there to help."
Luckily, Clarke was able to bring both swimmers to safety.
"You're dealing with the rip current and big waves and at the same time someone is holding on to you," Clarke said. "For half a second, in my mind, I thought I was going to be a goner too."
The battalion commander was prompted to nominate Clarke for the award after he received emails from bystanders, Clarke said.
"We have a great command team who takes care of guys out there doing the right thing," Clarke said.
Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, presented Clarke with the award.
"He gave a speech on my behalf. That was really a great honor," Clarke said.
Clarke said since he received the award people ask him what it feels like to be a hero.
"(Soldiers) are all heroes," Clarke said. "We all sacrifice. We miss births. Being a hero is about sacrifices and putting your life in danger. Any guy who stands with me in battle any day will be my brother. That's the true character of a hero."
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