FORT BLISS, Texas – The United Service Organizations recognized an Army sergeant assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division as its 2023 Soldier of the Year during an award ceremony at the East Bliss USO facility, Fort Bliss, Texas, Oct. 4.
Sgt. Michael Wolkeba, a combat medic from Winchester, California, was lauded for providing lifesaving medical assistance to an elderly couple involved in a multi-vehicle accident.
On August 4, 2022, Wolkeba and his wife, Anissa, were driving through Arizona to visit family in California when they came upon stopped traffic and an apparent accident site.
An RV had crashed into the back of a semi, its rear bumper smashed through the RV’s windshield and pinned a woman’s legs under the dashboard.
“What I resorted to was my training and what others would do in my position,” Wolkeba stated. “Also, the pride I have in wearing this uniform. We’re trained to not succumb to fear or panic in that moment.”
Wolkeba and another EMT worked in turns using a crowbar to relieve the pressure on the woman’s legs and provided lifesaving care to keep her airway clear of blood and broken glass.
“I was able to fit under the dash and put a tourniquet on her leg,” said Wolkeba. “Once we got that on, we continued to assess her vitals and breathing.”
Eventually, with the help of newly arrived firefighters, they were able to extricate her from the vehicle to safety. After returning the first aid equipment borrowed from police on the scene, Wolkeba continued on to his destination.
Wolkeba is a first generation American. His parents immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia before he was born.
“My father was in the Ethiopian Army, and it’s a tradition if your father served, then you would serve,” Wolkeba said. “Due to instability, they didn’t want me to serve there and came to America to give me a better life.”
Wolkeba enlisted in the Army in May 2020 as a combat medic.
Prior to his enlistment he earned a bachelor’s degree of science in kinesiology, dean’s list, from Cal State University in San Marcos, California. Notable in his military education was his taking the title of honor graduate in his Basic Leader Course class.
Soldiers in his formation frequently describe him as compassionate, selfless, and a noncommissioned officer who cares about his troops. He is known to be knowledgeable about his profession and never misses an opportunity to educate junior Soldiers.
During his free time, he likes to give back to the community, volunteering with several local service organizations. Between his past performance and dedication to his communities, Wolkeba already stood out to his command and among his peers.
Word spread through the battalion about the incident. First responders from the accident contacted the unit voicing their thanks and others saw news reports about that day. The company shared the news with the battalion command team about a month later.
“We were surprised, but not shocked,” said Lt. Col. James Siebert, commander of 4th Bn., 6th Inf. Regt. “He is a performer one hundred percent within this formation.”
Wolkeba’s leadership took action to adequately recognize him for his selfless service. His command awarded him the Army Commendation Medal, but they wanted to do more.
Around that time, the 1st AD had posted a request asking subordinate units to recommend a Soldier for the USO Soldier of the Year.
Every year, the USO recognizes a service member from each military branch who demonstrated distinctive acts of bravery that exemplify military and USO values. His command team nominated him without his knowledge and wanted to surprise him. Once the unit received word that the USO selected Wolkeba for the honor of Soldier of the Year, the battalion held a formation where he was informed about the award in front of his peers.
“I was grateful for the recognition and support they showed my wife and me,” Wolkeba said. “They went above and beyond anything I could have expected.”
Wolkeba added that his leadership is helping him to realize one of his Army goals, to be enrolled in the Interservice Physician Assistant Program and eventually become a Physician Assistant.
“Sergeant Wolkeba is a true ambassador for the Army and the division,” Siebert said. “He is an Iron Soldier through and through.”
During the recognition ceremony, Wolkeba received a challenge coin rack, a Soldier of the Year certificate and a 1st AD coin.
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