Fort Liberty soldier honored after saving four lives during active shooter situation in Georgia

A Fort Liberty soldier is being called a hero for saving four lives during an active shooter situation in Georgia.

The Soldier’s Medal was given to Lt. Joseph Guerra on Friday at the Hall of Heroes of the 82nd Airborne Division. The award is given to soldiers who distinguish themselves in a non-combat situation.

On June 11, 2021, Guerra was with friends in Columbus, Georgia, celebrating becoming officers when a gunman started firing on the crowd. He pushed a fellow soldier to the ground, covered her with his body and started treating the wounded after the shooter ran from the scene.

"I ran up, began treating my other friend in another establishment that they pulled him into when they found him and he had been shot, treated him, and then, I was told that a woman was shot that was behind the restaurant that we were inside of,” Guerra said. “I went back there and began treating her."

Guerra is a former Army medic.

Lt. Jack Painter, one of the soldier's Guerra saved, read his award citation.

"His selfless bravery in shielding fellow officers from dangerous gunfire without regard for his own life or safety epitomizes what it means to be an American soldier," Painter said.

On Friday, Guerra’s speech to his fellow soldiers was short. He told them to keep training because you never know when it will come in handy to help save a life.

The Soldier's Medal is the highest level of award a soldier can receive during peacetime for heroism. It's been awarded more than 18,000 times since its inception in 1926.