HeroVets: Tragedy in Tucson

Colonel Bill Badger (U.S. Army, RET.)

Bill Badger, a retired Army Colonel who helped disarm and subdue the gunman who went on the shooting rampage credits his military training for his ability to respond quickly.

Everyone has heard of the "bystander effect," a social-psychological phenomenon, where individuals do not offer help in emergency situations; in crowds, with a greater number of bystanders, it is even less likely that any one observer will help. Yet, in a crowded Tucson shopping center, the setting for the tragic Arizona shootings earlier this month, this was not the case with Bill Badger.

A retired Army Colonel, Badger took immediate action to tackle and successfully disarm the gunman. "I did what anybody would do. I think my military background made me react, and the timing was essential," Badger said.

According to early reports from the Arizona Republic, Bill Badger said he had no idea how badly his head was bleeding, while pinning down shooter Jared Loughner.

"I didn't know the blood was coming from me because I saw all the blood on the sidewalk, the walkway from the store, on him (Loughner) and all over the back of my hand and my arm," Badger said.

After the shooter was handcuffed, Badger called his wife, Sallie.

"I said 'I've been shot, but I'm OK, and I took the guy down, but I want you to come over right away,'" Badger said. Badger was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, where tests showed no brain damage.

He said he was admitted to the hospital about 11 a.m. and made it home around 5 p.m. Saturday. Badger, a military pilot for 26 years, attributed his actions to his Army training.

"No, I don't consider myself a hero. I did what anybody would do. I think my military background made me react, and the timing was essential," Badger said.

"My husband was born a hero," the New York Daily news quotes Sallie Badger of Tucson, Bill's spouse of 25 years. "He's always been a hero and he will always be a hero. In fourth grade, Bill's father died and he had to become the man of the house," she said. "He grew up real quick. He's a man's man."

Dr. Peter Rhee (U.S. Navy, RET.)

Dr. Rhee served in the U.S. Navy and was one of the first trauma surgeons to be deployed to Camp Rhino, Afghanistan

Similarly, after the shootings, where 6 died and 14 were wounded, one of the two high-profile doctors working to care for the wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, brings deep experience and accomplishment from military service. Dr. Peter Rhee recently served in the U.S. Navy as the director of the Navy Trauma Training Center at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California.

On the battlefield, Dr. Rhee was one of the first trauma surgeons to be deployed to Camp Rhino, Afghanistan, and recently started the first surgical unit in Ramadi, Iraq.

"I was in the Navy 24 years, and I trained to do nothing but battlefield casualty care. When I did go to Afghanistan and Iraq, I wasn't in a hospital. I was in very forward surgical units, so I was very accustomed to working with very little gear and people and personnel, very little resources, with wounds that are very different than civilian injuries," Dr. Rhee said.

"Did it prepare me? I would say of course it did.”

Gabrielle Giffords is the only member of Congress married to an active-duty service member, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Mark Kelly.

The recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal, Dr. Rhee serves as a consultant to the Office of Naval Research, and the Marine Corps Commandants War Fighting Laboratory.

On January 8, 2011, Rhee was jogging three miles from his home and turned back to rush to the hospital. He credited his staff and his experience in the battlefield, where he had few supplies, for his quick treatment of the congresswoman and the other victims.

He was confident Giffords would survive after learning that she had been able to squeeze a doctor's hand when she arrived at the hospital, something most gunshot victims can't do.

"She was alive at that time," Rhee said. "If she comes to me alive, I can keep her alive."

U.S. Navy Commander Mark Kelly: Spouse of Rep. Giffords

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Mark Kelly

Giffords is the only member of Congress married to an active-duty service member, U.S. Navy Commander Mark Kelly. He’s on leave to NASA, where he is expected to command the final planned mission of the American space shuttle program, STS-134 Endeavour, in April. Kelly remains hopeful that he will still serve on this historic mission (editors note: since publication of this piece, Kelly has since announced he will serve on the mission).

The events surrounding the shooting took on global proportions when Kelly’s twin brother, Scott, held a moment of silence aboard the International Space Station, where he is currently serving as commander.

Badger, Kelly and Rhee attended last Wednesday’s memorial service for the shooting victims, and were recognized for their service and their critical roles in the aftermath of the tragedy.