Three 1st Cavalry Division troopers honored for life-saving action

By Megan Skipper, Fort Hood Public AffairsOctober 14, 2021

Life-Savers
Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Ketch, Staff Sgt. Stephen Gulczynski and Staff Sgt. Corey Clark pose with command staff from 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Division, following an award ceremony in Howze Auditorium at Fort Hood, Texas, Oct. 7. The three First Team noncommissioned officers were honored for helping save the life of a fellow Soldier threatening to commit suicide June 19. (Photo Credit: Megan Skipper, Fort Hood Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - Three Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were awarded the Life Saving Award by the Bell County Sheriff’s Department, in addition to Army Achievement Medals at Howze Auditorium here, Oct. 7.

On June 19, following a unit barbecue, Bell County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a call at Chalk Ridge Falls that a service member was threatening to commit suicide on a bridge. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies were joined by Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Ketch, Staff Sgt. Stephen Gulczynski and Staff Sgt. Corey Clark, members of the Soldier’s unit.

The group immediately began working together to coax the service member off the ledge and back to safety, and they were able to accomplish this by utilizing a “hug” type hold. The Bell County Sheriff’s Department credited the fast and brave action by the three 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. Soldiers for saving the life of their fellow Soldier.

For their brave actions, the Bell County Sheriff’s Department presented them with the Live Saving Award, an award dedicated to individuals who assist in saving a human life.

Clark said he never suspected his friend and fellow Soldier was hurting so badly. He said things seemed fine at the unit barbecue just hours before.

“I did not (suspect he was hurting so badly), and that’s the thing, you don’t know. And honestly, you never know what someone is going through. I had no clue, because at the barbecue, everything was fine. He wasn’t putting out any signs that he was suicidal,” Clark said.

Staff Sgt. Stephen Gulczynski’s spouse attended the award presentation ceremony and expressed her pride in her husband’s heroic acts.

Award presentation
Staff Sgt. Stephen Gulczynski, Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Ketch and Staff Sgt. Corey Clark receive the Army Achievement Medal for their part in saving the life of a fellow Soldier during an award ceremony in Howze Auditorium at Fort Hood, Texas, Oct. 7. (Photo Credit: Megan Skipper, Fort Hood Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL

“I am absolutely proud … I think that everyday we just have to strive to be our best selves and, you know, they all three just stepped up to the plate and made sure that somebody was able to see another day and that’s courageous in itself,” Cabrini, Gulczynski’s spouse, said.

In his remarks at the award presentation ceremony, Sgt. Maj. Jerry Long, acting command sergeant major of 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div., said that camaraderie, bravery and trust played a part in the positive outcome of this situation.

“The Army attempts to breed camaraderie and bravery, and these three answered the call for a fellow Soldier in need. They saved their teammate, even while putting their own lives in peril,” Long said. “You see, they had built so much trust within their team and the family members within their sphere of influence, that when things went wrong with one of their teammates, the family knew who to call.”