Soldiers Commended for Heroic Actions During Fort Stewart Shooting

On Wednesday, six soldiers at Fort Stewart displayed remarkable courage by confronting and overpowering a mass shooter, according to U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. His remarks highlighted their quick, selfless response, which prevented even greater tragedy and showcased exemplary military readiness.

The incident unfolded on Wednesday, leading to a lockdown that lasted over an hour after Sgt. Quornelius Samentrio Radford opened fire, injuring five soldiers with a personal handgun. Radford has since been arrested.

In a ceremony held at Fort Stewart on Thursday, Driscoll praised the soldiers who “put themselves in harm’s way” to tackle the shooter.

“The fast action of these soldiers, under stress and under trauma and under fire, absolutely saved lives from being lost,” stated Driscoll, lauding their act of “heroism.”

“Just think about this: They were unarmed and ran at an armed person who they knew was actively shooting their buddies. Another soldier jumped on top of the shooter to help subdue him until law enforcement arrived,” he added.

Driscoll further noted, “These American soldiers exemplify what the Army has been to this country—standing strong during some of the darkest moments in history.”

Out of the five soldiers who were shot, three were discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, while two female soldiers remained hospitalized with ongoing treatment on Thursday.

During the Thursday ceremony, Driscoll awarded medals to those who subdued Radford and assisted the injured. Army Brig. Gen. John Lubas explained that the shooting occurred shortly before 11 a.m., with Radford being apprehended by 11:35 a.m. He also mentioned that it is still unclear how Radford managed to bring a weapon onto the base.

Radford, stationed at Fort Stewart since 2022, had not seen combat and had recently been arrested for a DUI—a fact that, strangely, was “unknown to his chain of command until the shooting occurred,” according to Lubas.

As for Radford’s motive, it remains undetermined. His father indicated that Radford had sought a transfer and expressed concerns about “racism” at Fort Stewart.

“It’s hard for me to process,” the elder Radford told the press.

Details surrounding this incident are still unfolding, and the community is trying to comprehend what transpired.