Fort Hood Responders Win Army Award
The Fire and Emergency Services unit, the largest military firefighter contingent in the U.S. Army, received the 2009 award for the large Fire Department of the Year for saving lives during the November 2009 mass shooting incident.
The U.S. Army has announced winners of the 2009 Fire and Emergency Services awards, which honor units and individuals for special achievements. Fort Hood Fire and Emergency Services received the 2009 award for the large Fire Department of the Year for saving lives during the November 2009 mass shooting incident at the Texas base.
"I am thankful for all of our fire and emergency services professionals who put their own lives on the line while protecting those who defend America," said Cheryle Hess, chief of Installation Logistics in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management. "I especially applaud those recognized this year for taking care of our soldiers, families, and civilians and for making Army communities safe."
Award winners included:
- Sgt. 1st Class Darrin Shiplett, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Military Fire Officer of the Year. He is senior writer/instructor at the U.S. Army Engineer School, responsible for providing equipment and training manuals to firefighters throughout the service and trains about 450 firefighter students annually.
- Spc. Joshua Seligman, Fort Rucker, Ala., Military Firefighter of the Year. A driver/operator and rescue specialist, he responded to more than 100 precautionary landings in the past year and voluntarily supported the South Carolina National Guard with live fire and driver operator training.
- Fort Detrick, Md., Fire and Emergency Services, Fire Prevention Program of the Year and medium Fire Department of the Year. The unit provides fire prevention support and life safety education to soldiers, families, and the community, and it is the first garrison to receive the Voluntary Protection Program Star award from OSHA.
- Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Fire and Emergency Services, Heroism Award. This unit won for its successful response to a remote training and testing range incident on base that involved a military tank filled with unexploded ordnance that caught fire, with personnel being seriously injured.
- Army Blue Grass Depot, Ky., Fire and Emergency Services, small Fire Department of the Year.