FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, Sept. 19, 2007) - Sgt. 1st Class Dennis J. Brady of the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade here, was awarded the Soldier's Medal Monday for heroic efforts in saving the life of Air Force Capt. David Bethel while on a scuba dive in Carmel, Calif., Dec. 2, 2006.
Brig. Gen. Arthur Bartell, deputy commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, presented the award.
"This award is about character, it's about the values we want to instill in our Soldiers. It's about leadership. Sgt. 1st Class Brady's actions epitomize the Warrior Ethos - he wouldn't leave a fallen comrade," said Brig. Gen. Bartell.
Sgt. 1st Class Brady said he didn't really expect to receive an award for helping Capt. Bethel.
"This is a huge honor for me to receive this award," he said. "I don't think of myself as a hero, though. I just did what had to be done at the time, to help save a life. It required me to think and act quickly, so I did."
Sgt. 1st Class Brady was attending the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in California and often scuba dived on weekends with other experienced divers. He was the team leader of the recreational dive with three other divers including Capt. Bethel. They snorkeled out about 350 feet before descending into the ocean. After 45 minutes of scuba diving, they headed back and became separated in an area of dense kelp about 125 feet from shore.
Water began splashing into Capt. Bethel's snorkel, causing him to choke. He released his dive belt, but instead of becoming lighter, dropped about a foot below the surface. The weight belt wrapped around the regulator breathing tube, pulling Capt. Bethel down.
"I remember thinking I'm alone and too far to be helped in time," said Capt. Bethel in a narrative describing Sgt. 1st Class Brady's life-saving actions. "My last thought was the realization that I was drowning and everything went dark."
Sgt. 1st Class Brady, who had already reached the shore, noticed that Bethel needed help. He and another diver risked their lives to get back to Capt. Bethel and find him underwater. They administered rescue breathing, swam him to shore and administered CPR. Nearby walkers called 911 for help.
"Without Sgt. 1st Class Brady's leadership and efforts, it's likely I wouldn't have survived at all," Capt. Bethel said, adding that doctors told him Sgt. 1st Class Brady also prevented him from suffering irreversible brain damage.
Sgt. 1st Class Brady visited Capt. Bethel at the hospital during his recovery, and the two have kept in touch since.
"I'm really glad that I was able to help Capt. Bethel," said Sgt. 1st Class Brady. "I'm especially happy for him, because he had a baby girl about three months later."
The Soldier's Medal is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving with the Army, distinguish themselves with heroism outside of combat. The performance must involve personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving armed conflict.
(Sheri Crowe writes for the Fort Bragg "Paraglide.")
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