Soldier helps victims at scene of accident
Capt. Matthew Pargett
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI)
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Dec. 2, 2020) – Each day around the world, Soldiers start their mornings improving their physical fitness so they can be ready for any mission. For Sgt. Ashlee Shelton of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), the need to be ready came shortly after she finished her own physical training on Dec. 2, 2020, when she drove upon the site of an overturned truck on a rural road outside of Fort Drum, New York.
“When I saw an arm sticking out the side of the window, I knew I had to stop,” said Shelton, who was the first person to arrive on the scene.
“I stopped and ran over to see if they were alright. They were fine, but I wanted to get them out so I jumped on top of the car to get the door open. Once they were out, they waited in the back of my car until the ambulance came.”
“She did an exceptional thing,” said Carthage EMT-B Jennifer Stafford, who responded to the scene.
Stafford said Shelton climbed onto the truck to help the two occupants, adding that she did all of this while still wearing her Army Physical Fitness Uniform.
“It’s a good thing when Soldiers do good things,” said Stafford, who recognized Shelton’s actions were essential that morning.
A modest person by nature, Shelton kept her actions to herself until Carthage emergency services reached out to Fort Drum officials to let them know what she had done.
Reflecting on her actions that morning, Shelton acknowledged that her Army training helped her to respond effectively.
“I was in the moment, and I just wanted to ensure that they were okay,” she said, adding that she believes anyone else in her shoes would have done the same thing.
In recognition of Shelton’s actions, the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division will present her with the Army Commendation Medal.