Courtesy Photo | U.S. Air National Guard Master Sgt. Roman Jeter and Staff Sgt. Timothy Horton, Airmen...... read more read more
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STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – Two Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing were recognized for saving their fellow Airmen’s lives at an award ceremony held at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, Dec. 8, 2024.
The 105th’s Top 3 Executive Team presented Staff Sgt. Timothy Horton and Capt. Sinead Kirnan with the Henry W. Windels Wingman Award for their selfless and decisive actions that helped save the lives of two wingmen. These incidents occurred outside of their military duties—Horton’s action took place during his civilian job as a police officer, and Kirnan’s was in a situation where a friend was helping another friend.
Horton, a defender in the 105th Base Defense Group responded to a 911 call while on shift in Warwick, New York, Aug. 19, 2023. The call was for Master Sgt. Roman Jeter, a 105th Air Maintenance Squadron maintainer, who had gone into cardiac arrest at his residence and required immediate medical attention.
Upon arriving on scene, Horton took over cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from Jeter’s wife and set up an automated external defibrillator (AED), administering defibrillation to Jeter. He successfully stabilized Jeter’s pulse while awaiting emergency medical services (EMS).
Horton’s actions didn’t end there. He followed Jeter to a local hospital, where it was determined he would need to be airlifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, for further treatment. Horton then assisted the Air Evac team in carrying Jeter onto the helicopter.
“While I was performing CPR and AED actions, I was thinking about my training and performing to the best of my ability, relying on those around me as well,” said Horton. “Fortunately, that night everyone did a great job, making for a great outcome.”
Nearly a year later, on June 19, 2024, Kirnan, a pilot with the 137th Airlift Squadron, was helping Master Sgt. Jaron Brown, a loadmaster with the 137th, walk up to his third-floor condo while he recovered from a foot injury.
One of Brown’s crutches became caught in the stairway railing, causing him to lose his balance and stumble into the balcony railing. The railing gave way, and Brown fell three stories to the concrete sidewalk.
“I ran down to him, and he wasn't talking, not responding, not moving,” said Kirnan. “He was lying on his stomach, and when I looked at his head, I saw he had a huge gash and was bleeding.”
Kirnan immediately called 911 while checking Brown’s pulse and trying to get his attention. When Brown regained consciousness, Kirnan kept him calm and still, ensuring his safety until EMS arrived.
Due to the nature of the injury, EMS determined that Brown needed to be airlifted to Westchester Medical Hospital in Valhalla, New York. Not wanting him to be alone, Kirnan attempted to convince medical personnel that she was his wife and needed to accompany him. When she couldn't answer their questions and was denied a seat in the helicopter, Kirnan quickly drove to the hospital to meet Brown, staying with him until his wife arrived.
“You don't know how you are going to react in a situation like this,” Kirnan said. “But I’m just super thankful I was there to help, and he wasn't by himself.”
For their heroic actions, Horton and Kirnan were honored with the Henry W. Windels Wingman Award, a prestigious recognition within the 105th Airlift Wing.
The award was created in honor of Master Sgt. Henry Windels, an Airman with the 105th who donated a kidney to a fellow 105th Airman in 2016, saving his life. Windels’ selfless actions, embodying the core values of the U.S. Air Force and the wingman concept, led the 105th’s Top 3 Executive Team to establish the Henry W. Windels Wingman Award in his name. Windels was also the first recipient of the award.
| Date Taken: | 12.08.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2024 09:53 |
| Story ID: | 487303 |
| Location: | NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 397 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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