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Kadena Airmen recognized for lifesaving actions

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Corey M. Pettis
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, JAPAN --  Three Kadena Airmen were recognized for their decisive, life-saving actions Nov. 4.

Senior Airman Brian Moore, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels fixed facilities operator, Staff Sgt. Matthew Meserve, 18th Security Forces Squadron patrolman,  and Airman 1st Class Ethan Adams, 18th SFS patrolman, were awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal for preventing the potential suicide of a fellow Airman.

On Sept. 5, Moore overheard his friend talking about ending his own life. Moore sprang into action, calling the 18th Security Forces Squadron and attempting to coax his friend out from behind his locked door. Moore then quickly retrieved the building's master key to open the room.

Meserve and Adams, the 18th SFS responders, ran to the room and unlocked the door, which then jammed because of an internal lock. They threw themselves against the door until it opened, and found the Airman dangling by one arm from the 3rd story window. Without hesitation, they grabbed the Airman and pulled him inside. 

"We just got in there and grabbed him," said Meserve. "It feels good."

"The actions of these Airmen combined just demonstrate the professionalism that we have here at Kadena, Team Kadena in general, and in the 18th Wing," said Chief Master Sgt. Charles Hoffman, 18th Wing command chief. "The general and I could not be prouder of them for doing the right thing when the moment called and making a difference in someone's life."

Hoffman stressed the importance of professionalism, commitment, and doing the right thing when the moment arrives.

The 18th Wing's number one priority is resilient Airmen imbued with a culture of trust and respect. Meserve, Moore and Adams displayed just that in their quick response and concern for their wingman's life.

"I can only hope for me, as an Airman, that I would have the courage -- the moral courage, the physical courage -- to muster that kind of instinctive, momentary will to do what's right, no matter what that challenge is, no matter what personal cost it may be," said Brig. Gen. Barry Cornish, 18th Wing commander. "This is a great example of what it's like to be a wingman. It's not just your job, it's not an occupation, it's not just being on post or on duty; this is about taking care of people and being a wingman for those people around us."

These Airmen were presented with Air Force Achievement medals and certificates by Cornish and Hoffman in a ceremony attended by their co-workers and peers.

"I have no doubt that those certificates and those pictures of us grinning to the camera will make it to some family member's house, maybe sit on Aunt Sally's piano for a little bit, or on the fireplace and they'll be proud of who you are and what you've done," said Cornish. "Someday in the future, grandkids could see that certificate and that picture and they'll wonder, 'what did he do?' and the other will say, 'I don't know, but it must have been important.' And it was. It's tremendously important, everything that you do. It's deserving of recognition on days like this."