Massachusetts Air Guardsmen recognized as Red Cross Heroes

  • Published
  • By Capt. Evan C. Lagasse
  • 102nd Intelligence Wing Public Affairs
HYANNIS, Mass. --  Two members of the Massachusetts Air National Guard were recognized as heroes during the 10th Annual Cape Cod and Islands Red Cross Heroes breakfast at The Resort and Conference Center here, March 30, 2012.

Master Sgt. Guy and Tech. Sgt. Dixie, members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, were honored as 2011 Military Good Samaritan heroes for voluntarily providing lifesaving support to four teenagers after an automobile accident.

On the evening of March 24, 2011, Guy was driving to work when he saw an out of control vehicle go airborne, leave the roadway and collide with a tree. Without hesitation, he rushed to aid the victims.

"I used to be a volunteer fire fighter and emergency medical technician so I am trained to handle these kinds of situations," said Guy, a 28-year military veteran.

The first to respond, Guy assessed the scene and began providing life saving assistance to one victim who had been ejected from the vehicle. At the same time, Guy called 911 to request medical and rescue personnel and relayed essential information to express the severity of the situation.

While Guy was providing care for the victims, Dixie saw Guy's truck parked on the side of the road while she was on her way to work and quickly decided to lend a hand. Immediately recognizing a need for traffic control, she began directing traffic around the accident scene ensuring safety for the accident victims, allowing access to the scene for emergency response vehicles and preventing a backlog of traffic.

"There is only one lane of traffic in each direction on the road where the accident occurred so traffic was backing up quickly," said Dixie.
Dixie continued to direct traffic even after emergency vehicles arrived which allowed the maximum number of emergency professionals to assist the four victims, all of whom survived the accident.

After being formally recognized as Cape Cod and Islands heroes, Guy and Dixie humbly expressed their feelings.

"I'm truly humbled by this recognition. I don't view my actions as heroic. I just knew I had to do something to assist Master Sgt. Guy so I helped the best way I knew how," Dixie said.
"I'm impressed by the number of people who attended this awards ceremony and humbled to be honored alongside so many community members who have done so much to make Cape Cod and the Islands a better place to live," Guy said.

The National Guard is a community-based organization focused on providing assistance to local communities in their greatest time of need. Guy and Dixie's actions embody the National Guard spirit.

"I am extremely proud of Master Sgt. Guy and Tech. Sgt. Dixie. Their actions epitomize the Air Force's second core value, 'Service before Self.' Without regard for their personal safety they provided life saving support for members of our community," Col. Anthony Schiavi, 102nd Intelligence Wing commander, said.

(Editor's note: The full names of some Airmen in the story were left out based on operational security concerns.)