Newspaper Article on Doug's Act of Heroism

Doug's story was published in the Scott Air Force paper yesterday, Thursday, June 28th. The article is below, but if you wanted to go the link I've also included it here. 

http://www.amc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123306679

Lt.Col. Douglas Edwards, 906th Air Refueling Squadron commander, receives the Airman’s Medal from Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, 18th Air Force commander, in a ceremony at Scott Air Force Base Ill., May 21, 2012. Edwards received the award for rescuing an elderly woman from a burning vehicle Nov. 2, 2009, near King Hill, Idaho. Edwards succeeded in freeing the injured and trapped victim from her car just moments before the entire vehicle became engulfed in flames on the interstate. Local Sheriff Deputies responded within eight minutes of the initial 9-1-1 call about the accident and later told Edwards the victim would have been burned alive if he hadn’t acted so quickly. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Franklin Hayes)  Scott Col. receives Airman's Medal for act of heroism by Maj. Jennifer C. Howsare 126th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs  6/28/2012 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Lt. Col. Doug Edwards, 906th Air Refueling Squadron commander, had no idea he was on a course with destiny when he and his family began their 2009 trip from Joint Base Lewis-McChord Wash., to his new duty station at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He and his wife, Joy, along with their three children, traveled separately in two vehicles on a desolate stretch of Interstate 84 near King Hill, Idaho, and his actions that day earned him The Airman's Medal. In the early morning hours of their travels, both Doug and Joy Edwards noticed smoke rising ahead on the highway. While neither knew the cause of the black plumes, he said he knew something was not right. "Within seconds, my family and I were the first to arrive on the scene of a single-car accident," he said. "My wife and I each pulled our vehicles to the side of the road and Joy placed a call to 911 as she watched me sprint toward the disabled and smoking vehicle." Edwards said he saw flames were coming from the engine and an elderly female driver was trapped inside the vehicle. He also assessed the driver was alone, and her legs were pinned under the dashboard. All of the windows had been shattered and both the driver and passenger side doors were jammed shut. "I tried to take command of the scene and began shouting instructions and coordinating rescue efforts," he said. "I initially struggled to hold back the fire with small fire extinguishers, but realized they were no match for the rapidly growing flames. "I recognized the only chance for a successful rescue was to remove the woman from the burning vehicle so I refocused on her," he continued. "By now, there was a small crowd gathering, but I noticed I was the only one struggling to pull the woman to safety. Edwards said he was unable to reach into the car to unlatch the driver's seatbelt but a young man lunged through the blown-out passenger side window and unlatched the belt. "About that same time, a second man joined forces with me and we were able to use our combined body weight to pry the driver side door almost off its hinges," he said. "However, once the door was opened I was alone again fighting to free the trapped woman. I noticed the driver was regaining consciousness and I shouted at her to wiggle her body to free her legs; it was then she slipped free from the car's grasp, and I was able to pull her to safety." He added that by that time he got her out, the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames, but the driver and he were a safe distance, so he began to asses her injuries. "My wife and I believe it was divine intervention that placed us near mile marker 129 on I-84 on that cold November day in 2009," he said. "Even though it only took first responders seven minutes to reach the scene after the first 911 call, the car was completely engulfed in flames upon their arrival." Three years later, the Edwards family say they're still humbled by the event and modest regarding recognition. "It was a complex set of circumstances that put us on that road at the right time," Edwards said. "Our memories of that morning still amaze us and the experience is very personal. I feel honored to be receiving attention for doing what, at the time, felt very natural and necessary." Despite his humility, he received The Airman's Medal in a small ceremony May 21. Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, 18th Air Force commander, presented the medal and complimented his courageous and humanitarian actions and recognized his acts of heroism involving voluntary risk of his life.

Doug Receives an Airman's Medal

Two and a half years ago Doug pulled a women from a burning car and saved her life. The Airman's Medal he received on Monday, May 21st was in recognition of his act of heroism. 

Click here to read about the story. 

It was a long process to award him this medal that was given to him by General Ramsey. His Decoration was personally signed by the Secretary of the Air Force, Mr. Michael Donley, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Nortan Schwartz. The Airman's Medal is the 9th highest medal that can be awarded to an airman. It is actually higher in rank than a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

 Airman's Medal

Background
This decoration was established by 10 U.S. Code 8750, on July 6, 1960, and takes the place of the Soldier's Medal for Air Force personnel.

Criteria
It is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Air Force after the date of the award's authorization, who have distinguished himself or herself by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of his or her life but not involving actual combat. The saving of a life or the success of the voluntary heroic act is not essential. Do not award for normal performance of duties.

Medal Description
This medal was designed and sculpted by Thomas Hudson Jones of the Institute of Heraldry. On the obverse of the circular medal is the figure of the Greek god Hermes, son of Zeus, resting on one knee. He has just released from his open hands an American Bald Eagle, shown rising into flight. Within the raised rim of the medal, is the inscription Airman's Medal in raised letters. The reverse of the medal, has a raised outer edge and bears the inscription, For Valor above a space for the recipient's name which is within a stylized laurel wreath open at the top and tied at the bottom.

The Airman's Medal is unique in that its shape does not follow the octagonal shape of its counterparts, the Soldier's Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Coast Guard Medal. It had been established practice heretofore to design military decorations with a distinctive shape, so that they would not be confused at a distance with service or campaign medals, which are always circular in shape. The reason for this is because the design was originally approved for use as The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

Ops Group Christmas Party

We plan two parties a year with all the other squadrons in the Ops Group at Scott. 

Since the Ops Group Commander's spouse does not live here, the planning falls on the shoulders of the Commanders' spouses. Unfortunately, no one was stepping up to organize the event, so I reluctantly volunteered because I was the only one asking questions. However, it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened because now I don't have to plan another Ops Group event for the rest of Doug's command. 

One of the Commander's spouses came up with a game where the kids decorate all the Squadron Commanders as Christmas trees. Our kids we're very excited to wrap Doug up and it definitely provided great humor for everyone watching.

 

 The most exciting part for the kids was seeing Santa fly in on a C-21.

All of the parents brought wrapped books for their kids that Santa handed out.

It turned out really well and I'm not sure if any kids figured out that their parents had 

bought the books!

Air Force Ball

906th ARS Squadron 

The Edwards' and the Lanier's

Jenni's been a huge help with the Spouses Group and Chris is Doug's DO. They are a homeschooling family too and we actually met them when we moved here, so it was funny when we both found out the guys were going from their jobs in TACC to the 906th!