Virginia Guardsman awarded Soldier's Medal for heroism

By Staff Sgt. Andrew H. Owen
Virginia National Guard

Lt. Gen. John Sterling awards Chief Warrant Officer Clifford Bauman the Soldier's Medal at Fort Monroe July 23. Bauman was awrded the Medal for his selfless service which saved three lives in October. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew H. Owen, Virginia Guard Public Affairs)
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FORT MONROE, Va., (7/24/10) -- A Virginia Army National Guard Soldier serving an active duty tour with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) was awarded the Soldier's Medal here July 23 for his actions that resulted in the saving the lives of three men following a boating accident in the Chesapeake Bay Oct. 3, 2009.

Lt. Gen. John E. Sterling, deputy chief of staff for U.S. Army TRADOC, presented Chief Warrant Officer Clifford Bauman the Army's highest medal for non-combat related actions during a presentation ceremony attended by Bauman's wife, father, and friends and coworkers at Morelli Auditorium on the Hampton base.

"This is a very auspicious occasion. This is my first ever opportunity to participate in an award ceremony for the Soldier's Medal," said Sterling. "It's a big event. It's a very significant event, and we need to take notice of it."

The Army has many awards and medals it bestows upon Soldiers for heroism during battle and many for recognizing Soldiers for outstanding work performed in the field and in garrison, but the Soldier's Medal is the highest award a Soldier can receive for heroism not directly related to combat.

"We have lots of awards for and recognitions that we do for valor in the face of the enemy, but from time-to-time there is an opportunity for a Soldier to use the skills that he has...in a life-saving event that doesn't necessarily involve actions in front of the enemy," said Sterling.

Bauman was heralded for his swift actions that saved three men that day. Although one man passed-away on the scene, Bauman's quick action and years of Army training gave him the tools he needed to save the other three men.

"We saw everything that happened," said Bauman, who was out on the bay fishing with the other honorees and his son at that time. "The boat was pulled under the bow of the larger ship, and then it popped up on the other side. There was no doubt that help was needed, so we headed in that direction while making phone calls to emergency services. My boat (a 23-foot Seahunt Victory 225 LE) has a GPS, and that made it possible for us to provide the exact location of the accident."

Arriving at the scene just seconds later, Bauman grabbed his extra life vests and dove into the water to assist the panic-stricken victims. Marquis maintained contact with the Coast Guard and other emergency services to keep them updated on the situation and the location of the accident scene.

Bauman said he appreciates the recognition, and the opportunity to "set the record straight" about the events of that day. Local newspaper reports listed the Coast Guard and local emergency crews as the first responders, but they were not present at the accident scene.

"We just want people to know that it is ordinary folks like us who are often first to respond to a major incident ... and if you can offer assistance safely, you should," Bauman said. "We don't want the Army to lose the credit either. Because of our training and the ability to make effective decisions on the spot - as well as doing what we could with the limited resources we had available - we made a difference. That's the real message here."

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eddie Whitt, command chief warrant officer of the Virginia National Guard said Bauman stepped in at the right time. "With all of the training our Soldiers receive, it's only natural in a situation where life and death was at hand that Chief Bauman stepped in," he said. "His actions speak highly of the Virginia National Guard Warrant Officer Corps and the Virginia National Guard itself."

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