Two soldiers who tackled and subdued a sergeant during a shooting at Fort Stewart, Georgia, last year were honored Thursday for acts of courage that protected their fellow soldiers and ended the threat.

Sgts. Aaron Turner and Michael Boron received the Soldier’s Medal from acting Army Secretary Adam Telle. The Army describes the decoration as its “highest peacetime award.”

Turner and Boron restrained Sgt. Quornelius Radford on Aug. 5, 2025, after he entered a set of buildings on the base and opened fire with a personal firearm. Four soldiers and one civilian were wounded.

Telle said the two sergeants acted immediately despite the serious risk to themselves. “They absorbed the danger so their teammates wouldn’t have to,” he said.

The acting Army secretary called Turner and Boron American heroes and said their courage could not be taught in a classroom. Both soldiers confronted, tackled, and restrained Radford as the shooting unfolded.

Turner told Task & Purpose and one other outlet that Radford said he was not there to hurt soldiers, “just leaders,” and told Turner to “go home.” Turner instead tried to persuade Radford to stop.

Turner had recently lost his mother and did not want to see any teammates killed. “It’s not worth it,” Turner recalled telling Radford during the confrontation.

“I’d already just lost my mom and wasn’t trying to see any teammates lost either, and so tried to downtalk him that way,” Turner said. The exchange continued as Turner worked to get control of the situation.

According to Turner, Radford wrestled back and forth before dropping the magazine and putting in a single stack. Boron then arrived to help, placing a hoodie over Radford’s head and pulling his shoulders back.

Turner brought Radford into a kneeling position so he could be disarmed. The two sergeants’ intervention ended the immediate threat while other soldiers moved to protect their peers and care for the wounded.

Telle also presented Meritorious Service Medals to six soldiers, joining six others recognized in the days after the shooting. He said those soldiers established order, secured the area, and ensured every wounded teammate survived after the threat was neutralized.

Capt. Shailesh Nakarmi sheltered soldiers inside his office and provided lifesaving care to wounded personnel. 1st Lt. Kendarious Nixon barricaded soldiers in an office, rendered aid, and helped evacuate two soldiers from the scene.

Sgt. 1st Class Luis Garza shielded a soldier during the attack and was shot in the chest. Staff Sgt. Raudy Javier was the first soldier to find the wounded and began rendering aid until emergency medical services arrived.

Staff Sgt. Jalen Davis directed soldiers out of the building during the shooting and grabbed the shooter’s firearm clip. Spc. Gavin Brebnor also rendered aid to wounded soldiers.

“In the critical minutes after the threat was neutralized, these six took charge,” Telle said. He credited their actions and leadership with saving lives.

A week after the shooting, the Army charged Radford with premeditated murder, assault, and domestic violence. A military judge convicted him of attempted murder, while Radford pleaded guilty to the other charges.

In June, Radford was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole. The sentence followed the attack and the actions of the soldiers who stopped him and assisted the wounded.

Lt. Col. Carlos “Mike” Sanford, commander of the 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, said leaders have focused on addressing the “organizational trauma” caused by the workplace shooting. Soldiers have been encouraged to seek mental health care.

Sanford said leaders have also tried to celebrate the unit whenever possible. The organization held a ball last week and recognized accomplishments and individual victories among its soldiers.

“It takes time,” Sanford said. “It’s a continual process, and we’ve been messaging that since day one.”

Sanford said he is proud of the organization and believes celebrating those achievements helps the unit heal. The ceremony placed that focus squarely on soldiers whose courage, medical aid, and quick decisions saved lives during the attack.

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