Wainwright soldier earns medal for rescue - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Wainwright soldier earns medal for rescue

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — A Virginia soldier stationed at Fort Wainwright has been awarded the Soldier’s Medal for rescuing a comrade trapped in a Stryker vehicle that rolled into an Iraqi canal.

Spc. Ricardo Farrell of Annandale dove into what soldiers call the “hell hole,” a small opening between the compartment and driver’s seat, to rescue his driver.

Farrell was on combat patrol in a Stryker vehicle Dec. 22 when the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle.

The vehicle rolled into a canal, leaving a foot of breathable air in the rear of the vehicle.

Farrell says he heard the driver shouting for help and then go silent. He dove in, moved gear out of the way and pulled the driver out by his arm and body armor.