Illinois National Guard Soldiers Follow Their Instincts and Rescue Car Crash Victims

Two soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 405th Brigade Support Battlion, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in North Riverside have been awarded a commander’s coin for their actions in helping aid the victims of a September 14th, 2013 traffic accident that occurred at the intersection of Des Plaines and Roosevelt in Chicago.

The soldiers, Spc. Johanna Hernandez of Des Plaines, Ill. and Spc Jovonta Devon Duncan of Plainfield, Ill, were returning from a lunch break when they witnessed a collision between a vehicle and an SUV that was travelling as a part of a funeral cortege. The impact caused the SUV to roll, trapping its occupants inside.

Without too much of a second thought, the soldiers left their own vehicle and proceeded to pull the people out of the stricken vehicle and administer first aid as they waited for first responders to arrive at the scene.

The soldiers both credit the extensive training they receive in the military with enabling them to be able to assist effectively. “My military training played a big role in how I reacted,” said Duncan. ” I assessed the situation and took action, ” with Hernandez adding “It was just the right thing to do,” said Hernandez.

After presenting the soldiers with their commander’s coins Col. Troy Phillips the brigade commander of the 404th Manever Enhancement Brigade in Chicago expressed his pride in their actions. “What these Soldiers did embody the National Guard’s motto of ‘Always Ready, Always There,” said Phillips. “These Soldiers through their training acted without hesitation and that is direct reflection of their training with the National Guard.”