D-M Airman wins DOD Firefighter of the Year-Heroism Award

  • Published
  • By Airman Saphfire D. Cook
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz --  Tech. Sgt. Jayme L. Scammahorn, a fire station chief with the 355th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency Services flight here, was awarded the Department of Defense Firefighter of the Year-Heroism Award Aug. 27, 2010, at the DOD FES Awards ceremony in Chicago.

Nominees for the DOD-level awards are chosen from all branches of service and the Defense Logistics Agency.

Sergeant Scammahorn earned the prestigious award through heroic actions just over two years ago, while deployed in Southwest Asia.

On the morning of July 29, 2008, Sergeant Scammahorn was attempting to reenter the air base entry control point with three of his fellow airman, he said.

"My guys and I were headed into the air base entry control point at approximately 0745, when we heard three loud pops," he said.

After perceiving no immediate threat, Sergeant Scammahorn and the driver of his truck were proceeding in to the gate, when they discovered that the truck behind them was stopped with its door open, and its driver, Airman 1st Class Colin Shay, was lying on the ground, said Sergeant Scammahorn.

Sergeant Scammahorn then ran the 300 yards back to Airman Shay and immediately saw he had a head wound.

After acquiring a first-aid kit from a nearby security forces airman to supplement his own kit, Sergeant Scammahorn proceeded to tend to Airman Shay's wounds.

In the midst of administering basic treatment, Sergeant Scammahorn gave orders to those around him, he said.

It took him only four minutes to obtain cover fire from security forces, and two minutes to get ambulance dispatch onto the scene, he said.

Thanks to Sergeant Scammahorn's first-responder care, it took emergency services only 10 minutes to package Airman Shay into the ambulance; 45 minutes after suffering a gunshot wound to the head, Airman Shay was already being treated by doctors at a medical facility.

Even in light of the official honors bestowed on Sergeant Scammahorn for his actions, he continues to steer the focus onto his injured comrade.

"The kid's my hero," said Sergeant Scammahorn. "He got shot in the head and still managed to stop the truck, put it in neutral to keep it from rolling, pull the emergency brake and get out."

Sergeant Scammahorn was accompanied to the conference by his stepfather and mother, Joe and Sandy Quiroz, his commander, Lt. Col. Laurie K. Richter, and Scott W. Cline, the 355th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief.

Chief Cline said Sergeant Scammahorn is a leader who embraces the AF core values through actions, not words.

"Simply stated, he is a model Airman with a bright future in the U.S. Air Force," said Chief Cline. "Jayme is the type of leader I look forward to passing the torch to, when the time comes."

The DOD award was presented to Sergeant Scammahorn by Robert O. Work, the undersecretary of the Navy.

He was also awarded the Air Force Firefighter Heroism Award here 13 August 2010, which was officially presented to him by 355th Fighter Wing Commander Col. John A. Cherrey and 355th FW Command Chief Master Sgt. Vincent L. Howard.

The entire 355th CES is proud of Sergeant Scammahorn, said Lt. Col. Richter.

"It was my greatest pleasure to attend (both) the Air Force awards luncheon (in July) and Department of Defense conference to help recognize his efforts, as well as share in the pride of his mother and stepfather when he walked on stage to receive his awards," she said.

The Department of Defense Firefighter of the Year-Heroism Award was recently renamed the Robert A. McAllister Firefighter Heroism Award, in honor of the most decorated firefighter in Air Force history.

Awards were also presented to Senior Airman Jessica Morehouse of the U.S. Air Force Academy Fire Department, Colo., Golden Barrett, of Hill AFB, Utah, and recently retired Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Orona of Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Fire departments that received unit awards were F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.