Sergeant receives medal for act of courage

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mike Young
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  An Edwards sergeant recently received the Air Force Commendation Medal for an act of courage displayed while stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. in 2006. 

Tech. Sgt. Maurice Osborne, 412th Flight Test Squadron flight attendant, received the award for aiding an injured motorist involved in a vehicle accident. 

The Air Force Commendation Medal was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force in 1958 and is awarded to those who distinguish themselves through meritorious achievement and courage. 

Sergeant Osborne said he was a rehabilitation specialist for the first six years of his enlistment. During that time he received emergency response and CPR training. 

In the past, Sergeant Osborne participated in numerous exercises dealing with similar situations and he taught classes in CPR and self aid buddy care, he said. 

"I did only what I had been trained to do," Sergeant Osborne said. 

Sergeant Osborne witnessed the accident while reporting for duty one morning. He and two other motorists immediately assisted the victim who lost control of his vehicle rolled and collided with trees. 

"I had my children in the car with me when it happened, and I was extremely concerned for their safety while assisting the victim," Sergeant Osborne said. "Later, I found out they had been cheering their daddy on the entire time. That made me proud." 

Upon arrival at the scene, Sergeant Osborne's previous training and experience in self aid buddy care kicked in, he said. 

He immediately took action by instructing one motorist to help direct traffic around the scene and to call for help. 

Meanwhile, Sergeant Osborne said he found materials at the scene to create a splint used to stabilize the victim's multiple fractures. He also guided the other motorist to stabilize the victim's neck while paramedics arrived. 

"The other motorists who pulled over were amazing," Sergeant Osborne said. "They were diligent and responsive even though they had no formal training." 

Because of Sergeant Osborne and the two other motorist's quick and deliberate actions, paramedics were able to immediately transport the victim to emergency services. 

"This award is indicative of Sergeant Osborne," said Senior Master Sgt. Gerald Lofton, 412th FLTS operations superintendent. "He is a troop who epitomizes our Air Force core values -- integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do."