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What started as a relaxed kayak outing on the Red River went South quickly for SSG Ian Tyrrel and a friend.<\/p>\n
BY CHAD GARLAND<\/strong><\/p>\n A Special Forces medical sergeant was awarded the Soldier\u2019s Medal for saving an injured woman\u2019s life on what was supposed to be a relaxing kayak trip on Tennessee\u2019s Red River.<\/p>\n The medal was pinned to Staff Sgt. Ian Tyrrel\u2019s chest July 14 by Maj. Gen. John W. Brennan Jr., commanding general of 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) said in a statement. It\u2019s the service\u2019s highest award for bravery at the risk of one\u2019s own life outside of combat.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the great things we get to do is recognize bravery,\u201d Brennan said during a ceremony at the Deeks Language Lab on Fort Campbell, Ky. \u201cIt\u2019s common to recognize our Soldiers in a combat zone, but what Staff Sgt. Tyrrel did is not common.\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrrel had recently arrived at Fort Campbell in August 2019, his first duty station after completing the Special Forces Selection and Assessment course, when he and a friend decided to take a trip to Port Royal State Historic Park, the statement said. The park is several miles east of Clarksville, Tenn.<\/p>\n At one point during the day, they noticed a commotion in the water and saw a woman drowning. Tyrrel and his friend dove into the river and pulled her ashore.<\/p>\n Tyrrel determined she’d broken her leg when the current pulled her underwater. But a first responder who came to the scene didn\u2019t have any of the equipment he needed to treat the injury, he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A very lucky lady, and a hearty Bravo Zulu to SSG Tyrrel and friend. His words on the event?<\/p>\n \u201cThe lady needed help,\u201d he said. \u201cI helped her.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Going in the water is the last resort to effect a rescue, but if you must go, take flotation with you.<\/p>\n Stripes.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"