It was a blistering July afternoon in Baghdad when a U.S. Army sergeant made a decision that would define not only his leadership but also the lives of the soldiers under his command. A roadside IED had rocked the lead vehicle in a convoy. Smoke choked the air, chaos screamed from every direction, and uncertainty reigned. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t wait for orders. He moved.
Without hesitation, he crawled under gunfire to rescue a wounded comrade, coordinated a defensive perimeter, and helped evacuate the team before reinforcements arrived. Later, when asked what guided his actions, he didn’t mention adrenaline or instinct.
