Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Hytower was driving to work on October 5 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington when he encountered a serious vehicle crash on the interstate. Stopping to help, he discovered a woman wielding a knife and attacking two children.
Hytower moved in quickly to intervene. Other service members stopped to assist, forming an emergency team on the shoulder of the interstate. Army Sgt. Ricardo Nunez, assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, helped Hytower disarm and restrain the woman. Army Sgt. Alexis McKay, a Washington National Guard combat medic, provided medical assistance to one of the injured children until law enforcement arrived.
Hytower is a practical nursing specialist at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he trains service members in patient care using realistic medical simulation, including high-fidelity mannequins. The training prepares personnel to respond to complex scenarios under pressure.
"I think the biggest thing was just being able to stay calm and assess what was happening," Hytower said. "With both my soldier and medical training, you're taught to quickly figure out what needs to be done and prioritize what's most important. At first, our focus was making sure everyone involved in the accident was OK and getting them the help they needed. When the situation suddenly changed, we were able to react quickly and make sure everyone was safe."
Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary D. Petty, Madigan's senior enlisted adviser, commended the soldiers for relying on their training and placing themselves between danger and the vulnerable to save lives.