Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Haines receives soldier's medal

Never have so many owed so much to so few.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who was watching his country literally burn to the ground by non-stop German bombing raids during World War II, knew the weight of war and made that comment concerning his pilots, who didn't know if they would return home from the bombing raids into France and Germany that seemed futile at the time, but were so critical to his country's morale.

Staff Sergeant Curtis H. Haines exhibited such heroism on May 6, 2004, when, in the aftermath of a vehicular bomb incendiary explosive device at Checkpoint 11, he jumped into a fiery car and pulled a burning Iraqi civilian from the car that had just exploded.

He received the Soldier's Medal Award, the first Arkansas soldier to receive such an honor since World War II. He was honored on May 20 at the Prescott High School auditorium.

Haines, a member of the Arkansas National Guard, was one of the first soldiers on the accident scene in Iraq. After verifying the status of his soldiers and reporting the detonation to his supporters, led his squad to Checkpoint 11 and arrived in less than five minutes.

He quickly established a hasty perimeter with this squad and two gun trucks, it states on his award ceremony plaque.

Sgt. Chris Durney, who is in public affairs for the Arkansas National Guard, said what Haines did was derived from his Army values, which he represents well, Durney said.

The citation states that Haines disregarded his own safety and dove into a burning vehicle to retrieve an Iraqi citizen who was still on fire.

He focused on this civilian and single-handedly grabbed him by his shoulders and pulled him from the vehicle to safety, knowing the man would die if he did not complete his task, the citation states.

Sgt. Haines carried the Iraqi man more than 50 yards to safety and administered medical aid to the severely burned civilian, knowing the man could die.

The man was severely burned and after getting him to more qualified medical personnel, went to work extending the perimeter, the citation states.

Staff Sgt. Haines' diligent work, dedication to mission, respect for the Iraqi people and outstanding combat leadership are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Alpha Company, First Battalion, 153d Infantry and the United States Army, the commendation concluded.

Haines sat quietly and modestly throughout Saturday's celebration.

The ceremony was full of guests and Arkansas Army National Guard soldiers, who also were led by an official party, which included Arkansas Sen. Percy Malone, Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor, among others.

To receive a Soldier's Medal, a person of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a friendly foreign nation who while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, distinguishes him or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.

The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy, Durney said.

To receive a Soldier's Medal, a need to recognize acts of heroism in 1922 resulted in the War Department issuing War Department orders for acts of bravery during peacetime. This led to an Act of Congress which established Soldier's Medals for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.

I think Americans realize that this is what makes us great, Sgt. Durney said.

He represents the pinnacle of what the Army is made up of. I believe we all have some hero in us, but some other have more. Sgt. Haines is one of the them.