Kirtland Airman recognized for saving gunshot victim

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A C-130 crew chief from Kirtland's 58th Special Operations Wing has been recommended for very special recognition.  When his neighbor was shot and nearly killed last year, Staff Sgt. Craig Mullen sprang into action and used his Air Force training to save the man's life.

Mullen called 911, reached into the man's leg to staunch the flow of blood from a severed artery and performed CPR for 20 minutes while he waited for paramedics to arrive.

For that action, Mullen has been recommended for the Airman's Medal. The commendation is pending approval by the 58th's parent organization, the Air Force Air Education and Training Command.

Mullen, who has been a member of the Air Force for more than 10 years, said the honor came as a complete surprise to him. The soft- spoken Lawton, Okla., native said he is even mildly embarrassed at the attention.

He simply chose to do the right thing at the right time, he said. Growing up, he witnessed people making the wrong choices plenty of times, he said, and didn't want to be like them.

"I grew up in a rough neighborhood," he said. "Some people would look the other way."

Mullen certainly didn't "look the other way" on the morning of May 19, 2014. At that time, he was working the night shift at Kirtland, so he was at home with his family watching television and enjoying a warm spring day.

"It was a nice day out," Mullen said. "I had all the windows open."

Through the windows came the sound of a commotion and he looked outside to see what was going on.

"As soon as I opened the door, I heard the gunshot," he said. "I saw that my neighbor was slumped over on the ground holding his leg."

He also saw two people run to a vehicle and speed off, he said.

It was at that time that Mullen's Air Force training kicked in. The gunshot victim was bleeding heavily. Mullen saw the man had a severed artery and removed his shirt and used it to tie a tourniquet. Mullen then reached into the man's leg, found the severed artery and clamped it by hand.

While he did that, Mullen was relaying information to a 911 operator about the victim's condition and provided information about the assailants for the police.

He held pressure on the artery and performed CPR with his free hand as he waited for paramedics to arrive. At the time, he said, he had no idea how long he spent on the street, doing everything he could to keep the man alive.

"It seemed like forever," he said.

When paramedics arrived, Mullen gave police a detailed description of the getaway vehicle and driver, who Mullen said he had a good look at during the assailants' escape.

The alleged assailants were found soon thereafter by police and taken into custody. According to the narrative in the recommendation for Mullen's citation, the Albuquerque Police Department determined that the Airman's action saved the life of the victim.

Mullen said the drive to do the right thing and his Air Force training paid off.

"When you go to trainings, most people are like, 'Oh great, another training,'" he said. "I just started doing the things we train for. I know this stuff actually works."

The Airman's Medal is one of the Air Force's highest honors. In Air Force order of precedence, the Airman's Medal is ahead of awards like the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

It is awarded to an Airman who acts outside of performing his or her usual duties and "who has distinguished himself or herself by a heroic act, usually at voluntary risk of his or her life, but not involving actual combat," according to the Air Force Personnel Center website.

After the incident, Mullen said he was tired but too amped up on adrenaline to sleep. Once evening rolled around, he reported for his usual shift at Kirtland. He said he only mentioned to his shift lead that he might have to testify in court soon about something that had happened at home that afternoon. He was asked to fill out a full report, which led, in part, to the citation.

"I didn't know they were going to do that," he said. "I just enjoy what I do as a crew chief." It's safe to say that the decoration is not going to Mullen's head.

It's hard looking back," he said. "I just wish more people would do that instead of turning a blind eye. It's all about being a good wingman, and I hope more people do that."