Latest news with #Soldier'sMedal
Los Angeles Times
13-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Still riveting at 104: Costa Mesa woman, a Rosie during Word War II, feted on her milestone birthday
Costa Mesa resident Angie Nicargi, who during World War II was among the millions of American women embodied by the cultural icon known as Rosie the Riveter, was celebrated Friday to mark her 104th birthday. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Angie was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 11, 1921. She was one of six children and is the only one still living. She married her childhood sweetheart, Bill Nicargi, during the war. 'Bill was a wonderful man,' Nicargi said. 'He was even awarded the Soldier's Medal for heroism when he saved the pilot of a burning plane.' While Bill was serving in North Africa, Angie, then 21, joined the female workforce making airplane parts in a defense plant on the home front. 'It gave me a good feeling doing something in wartime,' she said. She and Bill made their home in Brooklyn, where they became the parents of three children, one of whom died as a child and another as a young adult. When Bill passed away after 52 years of marriage, Angie continued to live in New York where she immersed herself in full-time volunteering, from childcare at a convent to kitchen work at a senior center. But after her surviving son and his family moved from the East Coast to Southern California in 2006 and settled into Huntington Beach, she took a leap in her late 80s and decided to relocate herself. 'I don't regret moving to California,' Angie said. 'I have a wonderful son and daughter-in-law and no [family member] was left in New York.' Today she is blessed with four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. With Mother's Day falling on her actual birthday this year, a party in her honor with her family and friends was moved up to Friday at Coastal Heights Senior Living, an independent living facility in Costa Mesa. For nearly 16 years, Nicargi has lived independently in her Coastal Heights apartment, where she is both the oldest at the facility, as well as its longest tenant. 'She is a definite firecracker, as someone who is full of life, a lot of energy,' said Heidi Peter, Coastal Heights activities director. 'When you talk to her, she's just full of positive energy and has a lot to say. Never negative about anything.' When her vision began to fail, it was Angie's optimistic attitude that led her to acquire skills needed to live as independently as possible through the daily living training program at Helen Keller Services. Rather than give up, she learned adaptive techniques and organization systems to keep her home and life in order. 'I used to play bridge and do crossword puzzles, which I miss a lot,' Angie said. 'Now I listen to [Amazon's AI service] Alexa and ask her all about the important news.' When asked, she lists some of her healthy habits: practicing a positive attitude, reciting the 'Serenity' prayer, listening to her favorite tenors, going on little walks in her apartment, keeping up with chores, living a good, clean life and enjoying great Italian food.
New York Post
11-05-2025
- New York Post
Army medic speaks out after being honored for saving 14-year-old girl during apartment complex shooting: ‘Call of duty'
Army Sgt. Brian Lieberman, 22, said he was 'just doing his job' when he saved the life of a 14-year-old girl in the middle of a shooting at his apartment complex. But the United States Army believes Lieberman is an American hero, meriting the Soldier's Medal. Lieberman, an Army medic, is assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Soldier's Medal, a prestigious award since its inception in 1926, is presented to those deemed heroic through 'clearly recognizable personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life.' It is not enough to simply have been a 'good Samaritan' or to save a life. Rather, a recipient must act without hesitation to put his or her own life on the line. On June 5, 2023, a gunman attacked the Carrington Place apartment complex in North Carolina, shooting a teenage girl in the back. Army training instincts kicked in, and Lieberman rushed into the line of fire. 'I looked out my window with my roommate and we heard people screaming and saw people running around by my complex pool, at which point I grabbed my weapon and ran out my front door while my roommate dialed 911,' Lieberman said to Fox News Digital. 4 Army Sgt. Brian Lieberman was awarded the prestigious Soldier's Medal on Tuesday. WRAL / YouTube 'As I got downstairs, I approached a group of people and I threw my hands up and stated that I am an army medic and they pointed to an individual that was lying in the street. I was only able to locate a single gunshot wound to her lower back.' After discovering the wound, Lieberman began using his combat medic expertise to treat the victim, including using grocery bags as a makeshift seal. At that point, the gunman returned. 'The shooter's vehicle drove past us again, and my roommate yelled at me to get down. I threw myself over the girl while the shooters drove by [and] shot at us again, and then that was when I pulled my weapon out to return fire into the suspect's vehicle.' 4 Lieberman saved a teenager during a shooting at his apartment complex in 2023. WRAL / YouTube Lieberman then continued seeing to the young victim's wounds until medical personnel arrived on-scene. The victim survived thanks to the heroic actions of Sgt Lieberman that day. The 22-year-old sergeant was awarded the Solider's Medal on Tuesday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for his heroism and selflessness that day. 4 The Soldier's Medal is presented to those deemed heroic through 'clearly recognizable personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life.' WRAL / YouTube But Lieberman's humble, sacrificial nature didn't start in the Army. For him, he thanks his upbringing for his call to service. 'It all started at home,' said Lieberman. 'My mom is currently still a nurse and has been for well over 30 years now and my father was a paramedic and a police officer for [a] combined 30 years as well… I just grew up seeing my parents always go above and beyond, always stop[ping] to help someone in need, no matter where they were, what we were doing.' An Army citation reads, 'Specialist Lieberman's bravery and willingness to risk his life to protect others is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.' In truly humble fashion, Lieberman credits others for his brave actions that day. 4 Lieberman is an Army medic assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. WRAL / YouTube 'I would have not gotten this award if it wasn't for my roommate in that scenario… But if it wasn't for him that day, I would not be in the situation that I am in now,' said Lieberman. 'I feel like he didn't get much recognition that he deserves and I feel like he should be sitting right here next to me in this interview and in every single interview.' 'Because he brought me my medical bag, he brought me all the rags that I used to clean up her blood… So he might not have pulled the trigger that day, but he 110% was the reason that I was so successful that day in helping that girl.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Army medic receives award for fending off shooter, saving life
A U.S. Army combat medic received an award of courage for providing medical care to a shooting victim while exchanging gunfire with the assailant, according to an Army release. Sgt. Brian Lieberman — of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division — received the Soldier's Medal on Tuesday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Soldier's Medal acknowledges acts of heroism that fall outside the scope of combat with adversaries, rewarding actions that aid fellow soldiers or civilians. 'Specialist Lieberman's bravery and willingness to risk his life to protect others is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army,' an Army citation read. Lieberman reacted quickly on June 5, 2023, when he heard gunshots ring outside his apartment building, The Reserve at Carrington Place in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He reached for his personal firearm, rushing outside to find a victim near the pool suffering from a gunshot wound. Lieberman worked to address an injury to the victim's back, using a plastic grocery bag as a chest seal while waiting for his roommate to deliver medical supplies. 'I went into fight or flight,' Lieberman said in a pre-ceremony interview. 'I reverted back to everything the Army taught me.' Suddenly, the active shooter drove by in a car, opening fire on Lieberman and the victim, who Lieberman shielded with his body. Lieberman uncorked his firearm and shot back at the assailant, which prompted him to get back into the vehicle and drive away from the scene. He then returned to treating the victim, helping them remain conscious until the Fayetteville Police eventually arrived. Once on the scene, local authorities provided Lieberman with medical supplies to help stabilize the victim and treat their wounds as they waited for an ambulance. Col. Jason Schuerger, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, presented the medal to Lieberman during the award ceremony and praised Lieberman's actions as both selfless and emblematic of the team's identity. 'Without a doubt our Airborne medics move to the sound of gunfire to save lives,' Schuerger said. 'Of course he moved to the sound of gun fire, of course he administered aid, of course he saved somebody's life.' Lieberman wielded his own act of heroism as a lesson for younger service members. 'I always tell my junior medics to never lose their passion for the craft of medicine,' he said. 'That way no matter where they are, no matter what they're doing, they can always be there for someone on their worse day.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
This Army combat medic fought off an active shooter and rendered first aid
An airborne soldier was recently recognized for fighting off an active shooter in North Carolina and saving a gunshot victim's life in June 2023. Sgt. Brian R. Lieberman received the Soldier's Medal, which is the highest non-combat award given to soldiers for voluntarily risking their lives in order to aid or protect another person. Indeed, the criteria for the award stresses that it cannot be given 'solely on the basis of saving a life,' or being a 'good Samaritan.' Rather, the recipient must have demonstrated heroism that sets them apart from their peers and must have faced significant personal risk. In that regard, Lieberman, a medic with the 82nd Airborne Division's 307th Brigade Support Battalion, more than met the requirements for the award. Lieberman received his award during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on Tuesday from Col. Jason Schuerger, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Schuerger called it 'a rare instance of valor and heroism' that was well deserved for someone who re-told the story 'like I would talk about a dinner party the weekend before. You were matter-of-fact. You were nonchalant.' 'We're here to recognize you today, because that is not how a sane human being responds. That's exactly how our Airborne medics respond in circumstances, circumstances like that,' Schuerger said. 'Sgt. Liberman, make no mistake, your devotion and actions have distinguished you and brought great pride to our unit. You're a phenomenal example of the preparedness and selflessness of the troopers within our formation.' On June 5, 2023, Lieberman, then a specialist, was sitting in his Fayetteville, North Carolina, apartment when he heard gunshots outside. Lieberman looked out the window and saw people running and screaming near the apartment building's pool. Grabbing his personally owned firearm, he immediately ran outside and identified himself as an Army medic. One of his neighbors pointed him to a person who'd been shot and desperately needed care. While treating the gunshot wound, Lieberman saw a car rapidly approaching with the gunman hanging out of the rear window and pointing their firearm toward him. He shielded the gunshot victim with his body while the gunman began shooting. In a scene right out of a movie, Lieberman repositioned himself and took cover behind the maintenance building while the two exchanged fire. Looking back on it, Lieberman described his reaction as 'fight or flight,' adding in an interview later that 'I reverted back to everything the Army taught me.' Lieberman returned to the pool area to tend to the victim's wound yet again, using a piece of gauze as a seal, treated her shock and helped her maintain consciousness. When police got to the scene with additional medical supplies, Lieberman continued to treat his patient until emergency medical services arrived and took over. Lieberman said it was an honor to receive the award. He thanked his unit's leaders for the medical training that paid off, adding that 'you never know when you'll be on the C-17 going to fight these nation's wars' or responding to a shooter in broad daylight back home. 'As medics were constantly training to become experts of our craft,' he said. 'Never stop training, never stop growing your knowledge and skills, and never lose the love of the craft.' The Soldier's Medal is an almost 1-and-a-half-inch-wide Bronze octagon displaying a bald eagle standing on a fasces between stars on both sides. The medal hangs on a red, white and blue ribbon. It was established by Congress in July 1926. During the ceremony, Schuerger also took the time to recognize the role of combat medics, invoking the story of Pfc. Manley Merrill, a WWII combat medic assigned to the 307th Medical Company, which became the support battalion Lieberman is now part of. Merrill received a Silver Star for evacuating casualties from an aid station under heavy enemy fire. 'Without a doubt, our airborne medics move to the sound of gunfire, they treat and often save the lives of our troopers,' Schuerger said. 'We recognize you in the same selfless courage of Pfc. Merrill, 80 years ago. You are a combat medic, you move toward danger, treating our wounded and returning fire.' The latest on Task & Purpose
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Donald George Wood, Sr., Austintown, Ohio
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Donald George Wood, Sr., 94 of Austintown, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 1, 2025. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio to the late Lee Wood and Maude (Wigle) Wood on April 13, 1930. Find obituaries from your high school He was a 1949 graduate of Jackson-Milton High School. He went on to serve his country in the United States Air Force. He was certified as an Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic, working on early fighter jets and with trainers on the F-84, F-94, and T-33, and because of this, he was often called on to ride in the back seat of the early 2-seated jets during post maintenance test flights. During his time in the military, Don would earn the Occupation Medal and the Soldier's Medal, which is the highest honor awarded for an act of valor in a non-combat situation and left the Air Force with the rank of Tech Sergeant. After his time in the military, Donald went on to become a machinist for United Engineering/Wean United, from which he would retire and was also a bus driver for Austintown School System. Donald married the love of his life, the late Elizabeth 'Betty' Wood, on October 30,1954 with whom he would raise four children and spend 70 years together, creating a life full of love and memories before her passing on December 25, 2024. Donald enjoyed traveling with his late wife, Betty, having visited all 50 states, spending time at the cottage on the lake in Canada which was built by his father-in-law, George Cox. Don and Betty would take afternoon drives in order to explore Ohio and had no destination in mind. Don would also earn his private pilot license and would fly from Youngstown Elser Airport in the 60s and take his children for rides. The adventure of flying was caught by two of his sons who later would also earn their private pilot license and would fly from the same airport. Donald's memory will be carried on by his four children, Don (Kathy) of Salem, Ohio, Dan (Mimi) of Ravenna, Ohio, Ed of Austintown and Dee of Stow, Ohio; his grandchildren, Lauren, Michael, Lillian (Jake Emery), Isaac, Phoebe and Allison and great-grandchildren, Ruth and Remi. Donald is preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his brothers, Wilfred (Woody), Lee (Bud) and William and sisters, Phyllis (Dugan) and Marjorie (Kish). Family and friends may call from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7 at Lane Family Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel, with a service to follow. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald George Wood, Sr., please visit our floral 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
