Soldiers receive Army’s highest peacetime award for ‘miracle’ actions during Fort Stewart shooting

Two soldiers who tackled and subdued a sergeant who opened fire at Fort Stewart, Georgia, last year were recognized for their bravery during a ceremony on Thursday. 

for tackling and subduing a fellow soldier who opened fire at Fort Stewart, Georgia, last year. 

Sgts. Aaron Turner and Michael Boron were awarded the Soldier’s Medal, the Army’s “highest peacetime award,” by acting Army Secretary Adam Telle.

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

“When the shots rang out, these two sharp sergeants didn’t hesitate. At extreme personal risk, they confronted, tackled, and restrained an active shooter. They absorbed the danger so their teammates wouldn’t have to,” Telle said. “That level of courage cannot be taught in a classroom. It’s a testament to who they are as men, as soldiers, and as American heroes.” 

In an interview with Task & Purpose and one other outlet, Turner recalled Radford telling him that he wasn’t there to hurt soldiers, “just leaders,” and told him to “go home.” Turner recalled telling him, “It’s not worth it.”

“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.

“He wrestled back and forth. He dropped the magazine and put in a single stack. And then from there, Sgt. Boron ended up coming and assisting by putting the hoodie over his head, pulling the shoulders back,” he said. “Then I put him down in a kneeling stance to be able to disarm him.”

Telle also awarded six soldiers Meritorious Service Medals, joining six others who were recognized in the days following the shooting. The following soldiers were awarded for protecting their peers and caring for the wounded:

• Capt. Shailesh Nakarmi sheltered soldiers within his office and provided life-saving 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 and began rendering aid until EMS arrived. 
• Staff Sgt. Jalen Davis directed soldiers out of the building during the shooting and grabbed the shooter’s firearm clip.
• Spc. Gavin Brebnor rendered aid to wounded soldiers.

“In the critical minutes after the threat was neutralized, these six took charge. They established order, they secured the area, and they guaranteed that every single wounded teammate survived. Again, a miracle,” Telle said. “Their actions and their leadership saved lives.”

A week after the shooting, the Army charged Radford with premeditated murder, assault, and domestic violence. Radford was convicted by a military judge for attempted murder, and he pleaded guilty to the other charges. In June, he was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole. 

Lt. Col. Carlos “Mike” Sanford, commander of the 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, told Task & Purpose that he and other leaders have focused on addressing the “organizational trauma” since the shooting happened in their own workplace. He said they’ve encouraged soldiers to seek mental health care and tried to celebrate the unit in any way they can. 

“It takes time,” he said. “It’s a continual process, and we’ve been messaging that since day one. And I’m very proud of the organization. We just did a ball last week, and we celebrated some of our accomplishments and individual, small wins that soldiers have. You just got to celebrate that stuff, and that helps. It helps heal the organization.”