Spc. Lauren Kopetzky was about to go grocery shopping when she heard arguing outside her apartment.

The argument was disrupting the normally quiet neighborhood in Ames, Iowa, so Kopetzky decided to postpone her trip to the store.

"All of a sudden, for a moment I thought someone threw firecrackers at my window," the multichannel transmission systems operator told Army Times.

Kopetzky realized it wasn't firecrackers — one of the two men involved in the argument had been shot, with the shooter fleeing the scene.

"I ran out there to help [the man who had been shot] and ran back inside and grabbed some scarves and T-shirts and just whatever I could to try to do some first aid," she said.

The victim had been shot multiple times in the back and once in the leg, and she used the shirts and scarves to apply pressure to his wounds.

"I was just kind of thinking, 'Oh my goodness, how can I help this person?'" she said.

After calling 911, she spoke with the ambulance operator to guide them to their hard-to-find location.

Kopetzky was with the victim for about 20 minutes before he was taken to a Des Moines hospital. He survived.

Spc. Lauren E. Kopetzky, with Company C, 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion in the Iowa Army National Guard, received the Medal of Merit from Brig. Gen. Steve Altman, deputy commanding general for maneuver, on Sunday.

Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class David L. Meyer/Army


The pre-med student said that although working in the health-care industry helped her in this situation, her Army training really kicked in.

"I did all of the tactical combat care training they teach you in basic and in the unit," said Kopetzky, who's assigned to Company C, 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion, based in Cedar Rapids.

She credits the Combat Lifesaver Course and practicing with a simulator in basic training that simulates live fire in a combat environment.

"I learned how to treat gunshot wounds on various parts of the body," she said.

Kopetzky received the Iowa National Guard Medal of Merit for her actions on that day, Aug. 9.

"I was kind of shocked, honestly," she said about the award.

"I come from a military family, and these kinds of things are just kind of expected," she added about her reaction to the emergency outside her apartment.

She was awarded the medal during a ceremony on Sunday at Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center in Johnston. The Medal of Merit is given to soldiers who demonstrate outstanding service, accomplishment or acts of heroism, according to the Army.

Kopetzky's father, Sgt. 1st Class Wade Kopetzky, was "definitely proud" of her, she said.

"I don't think he was too terribly surprised," she said. "That's just how we were raised."


Charlsy Panzino covers the Guard and Reserve, training, technology, operations and features for Army Times and Air Force Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.  

About Charlsy Panzino

Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.

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