CENTENNIAL, Colo. — U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert F. Cruz, 8th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team, Colorado Army National Guard was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for heroism in an official ceremony at the Colorado Freedom Memorial on July 9, 2025.
The Soldier’s Medal is the highest U.S. Army award for acts of heroism in a non-combat situation.
The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Laura Clellan presided over the ceremony and presented the award to Cruz.
“Sgt. 1st Class Cruz’s heroic action which saved a man’s life is in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army,” Clellan said. “I’m proud to serve with Robert in the Colorado Army National Guard.”
Cruz was driving home from work Aug. 30, 2023, when he witnessed an accident involving four vehicles. One vehicle veered off the road trying to avoid an initial collision with the other two vehicles, then rolled several times into oncoming traffic, and collided with a fourth vehicle. Cruz pulled over and immediately began assessing the occupants of each of the two vehicles in front of him.
The rolled vehicle then burst into flame. With complete disregard for his own safety, Cruz swiftly moved to the burning vehicle and found the driver unconscious and bleeding from a head wound.
After determining the driver was the only occupant inside the rolled vehicle, he climbed into the overturned vehicle, unbuckled the unconscious driver, and moved the driver to a safe distance from the burning vehicle.
After Cruz revived the driver, the driver mentioned a child, so Cruz quickly raced back to the rolled vehicle and found an empty child's car seat. He continued to search inside the vehicle and around the area to confirm that there were no other occupants.
He stayed by the driver’s side until first responders arrived on scene. Cruz provided information to law enforcement of what he witnessed and of his actions.
The Soldier’s Medal was established by an Act of Congress July 2, 1926, and amended by 10 USC 3750.The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, including reserve component Soldiers not serving in a duty status, as defined in 10 USC 101(d), at the time of the heroic act, who distinguishes himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.
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