Cadet Awarded Medal of Heroism
 
CW3 Hiram Benitez, MSG George Smith, Cadet Crittenden and COL Michael T. Anderson
 
On Friday, February 17, 2006 Cadet Captain Jaclyn Crittenden, a senior at Mt. Pleasant High received the Medal of Heroism in a special presentation at Mt. Pleasant High School. This award is the highest any JROTC/ROTC cadet can earn. The Department of the Army provides this award to cadets who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism. The achievement must have resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from other persons in similar circumstances. Additionally, the performance must have involved the acceptance of danger or extraordinary responsibilities, exemplifying praiseworthy fortitude and courage. COL Michael T. Anderson, representing the Eastern Region, which includes schools in DE, MD, PA, NY, NJ, NH, VT, Mass. and Maine, presented the honor to Cadet Crittenden. This is the first time this award has been presented to any cadet in the region.

Cadet Crittenden distinguished herself by a valorous and selfless act on 12 July, 2005, while participating in the Junior ROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) Camp Adventure 2005, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. During the Aquatics training phase of Camp Adventure 2005, Cadet Crittenden and other fellow cadets were swimming in a relay race. Cadet Crittenden had just finished her part of the race when she noticed that one of her fellow female cadets, who was also swimming on the other competing team, began to slow down in the middle of the pool area. Cadet Crittenden noticed that the cadet’s arms began failing her. Although lifeguards were present in the nearby area, they were unaware of what was happening to the troubled cadet. Cadet Crittenden quickly realized her fellow cadet was in danger of drowning.

 
Without hesitation, Cadet Crittenden dove into the swimming pool, and with her own diving force and momentum, she swam underneath the drowning cadet and was able to lift her body up, which provided a measure of buoyancy for the cadet. At this point, Cadet Crittenden, while still under water managed to keep the cadet’s head above water by swimming underneath her and lifting her body as much as she possibly could. The cadet was the able to catch her breath, and Cadet Crittenden then pushed her upward and forward with all her remaining strength toward the pool’s edge. Her fellow cadet somehow managed to clasp onto the edge of the pool, and cadet Crittenden then boosted her body onto the cement deck where she was finally pulled out of the water.
 

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