Embry-Riddle Army ROTC Cadet Brandon M. Gargac has received the Medal of Heroism from the U.S. Army Cadet Command for his quick actions to save the life of a badly injured motorcyclist.
It is the first time that an Embry-Riddle Army ROTC cadet has ever received the Medal of Heroism, the highest honor awarded to Army ROTC cadets, says Lt. Col. Jerome Reitano, professor of Military Science at Embry-Riddle.
Gargac, from Galloway, Ohio, still vividly remembers the incident, which occurred May 8, 2023. He was home on his first day of summer break after completing his freshman year at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus, and he was headed for a workout at the gym.
“The actions undertaken by Cadet Gargac during this incident exemplify the epitome of heroism.”
Lt. Col. Jerome Reitano
“I drove over a hill and saw debris from an accident,” Gargac says. “The motorcyclist was badly injured and lost part of his leg.”
Gargac relied on the Army ROTC Tactical Combat Casualty Care skills he had learned. He used a belt, rope and sweatshirt found in his car to apply a makeshift tourniquet to the victim’s severely lacerated leg to control bleeding until paramedics arrived. The 18-year-old motorcyclist survived, and Gargac, a junior majoring in Aeronautics, is still in touch with him.
“The actions undertaken by Cadet Gargac during this incident exemplify the epitome of heroism and underscore the highest standards of bravery,” Reitano says. “He has proven to bean asset not only to the Army ROTC program but also to the broader community by making a significant and selfless contribution during a critical moment.”
Col. Jason Dumser, the 6th Brigade commander of the U.S. Army Cadet Command, presented the medal to Gargac at the Embry-Riddle Army ROTC’s year-end Pass in Review in April.