While many fled the horrific scene of the Tucson, Arizona, shooting on January 8, a number of others heroically stayed. While some of those good Samaritans did not live to tell their tales, those brave individuals are being hailed as heroes nonetheless.
For example, Judge John Roll, who fell victim to killer Jared Loughner on that fateful day, is being celebrated for giving his life to save another’s. According to video footage of the incident, Judge Roll was shot in the back after diving on top of the man next to him. The Montreal Gazette reports, “Richard Kastigar, head of operations at the Pima County sheriff’s department, said that footage showed that after Jared Loughner shot Ronald Barber, an aide of Ms. Giffords, Judge Roll almost simultaneously moved Mr. Barber towards the ground.” The footage reveals Judge Roll moving on top of Barber in an effort to shield him. Judge Roll was shot in the back in the process.
“I believe the judge is a hero,” Kastigar said. “I think Judge Roll is responsible for directing Mr. Barber out of the line of fire and helped save his life. It’s very clear to me the judge was thinking of his fellow human more than himself.”
Retired army colonel Bill Badger and Tucson resident Patricia Maisch, 61, are two heroes who fortunately survived the January 8 tragedy.
Grazed in the back of his head by a bullet, Badger saw the gunman standing beside him as he lay on the ground injured. As he prepared to take action, Patricia Maisch stepped up, took a folding chair, and slammed it into the back of Jared Loughner’s head. Badger then regained his composure and, with the help of two other heroes — Roger Salzgeber and Joseph Zamudio — grabbed Loughner’s wrist to prevent him from firing more shots.
The three men tackled the gunman to the ground. “I had this guy by the throat and the other guy on the other side had his knee right on the back of his neck,” Badger recalled.
As is the case of most heroes, Badger is reluctant to take credit for any heroism, asserting that anyone in his place would have done the same thing.
While being tackled, Loughner attempted to reach into his pocket with his left hand for a fresh magazine of bullets. Fortunately, he dropped the magazine, prompting Maisch to grab it before he could begin shooting again.
“Somebody said, ‘Get the magazine!’ so I got the magazine, and I was able to secure that,” said Maisch. “That’s what needed to be done.”
However, Maisch refuses to take any credit for bringing down Jared Loughner. “You were misinformed,” she told one reporter. “The credit goes to the men who brought down the gunman.”
Despite their modest assertions, it’s clear that the actions of Badger, Salzgeber, Zamudio, and Maisch helped to save dozens of lives that day.
While the drama unfolded, a 20-year-old intern proved himself a hero that day as well. Daniel Hernandez, an intern for Giffords, sprang into action immediately following the shooting of his boss, Representative Gabrielle Giffords.
A University of Arizona student and certified nursing assistant, Hernandez reportedly used his hands to apply pressure to Giffords’ gunshot wound and elevated her body in order to control some of the bleeding. At the time, Giffords was conscious and alert.
“She wasn’t speaking, however,” said Hernandez. “This is something that I’ve only done once and I hope I never have to go through again.”
Hernandez, unaware of whether or not the gunfire had ceased, also instructed another bystander to take similar measures with Giffords’ injured district director, Ron Barber, the man whose life was saved by Judge Roll.
Prioritizing Giffords’ needs before his own, Barber reportedly instructed Hernandez, “Make sure you stay with Gabby. Make sure you help Gabby.”
Hernandez stayed with Gabby until the paramedics arrived.
Susan Hileman, who is suffering from a survivor’s guilt of sorts, was shot three times while trying to protect the life of nine-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, who was fatally shot by Loughner despite Hileman’s best efforts. As she lay on the asphalt parking lot, Hileman struggled to assist the little girl. The two victims lay side by side on the ground, staring into each other’s eyes. “Don’t you leave me, Christina-Taylor Green. Don’t you die on me,” Hileman told the child.
A bystander discovered Hileman wounded on the ground. She immediately put pressure on Hileman’s wounds and, with her mobile phone, contacted Christina-Taylor’s parents and Hileman’s husband.
Hileman is afflicted with guilt over the death of the girl because Hileman was the one who brought the child to the event that day. Christina was reportedly very excited at the prospect of meeting a real-life Congresswoman.
As the country mourns the loss of life on that tragic day, letters and e-mails from across the nation continue to pour into Hileman’s home, bearing words of comfort for the guilt-stricken woman. “People are taking real good care of me. I’ve never been on this receiving end,” says Hileman. “I’m just a regular person. I’m special to my friends and family. I’m just me. But Tucson loves me, and I love Tucson.”
In the days following the January 8 shootings, Americans once again proved themselves to be the charitable people for which they have long earned a reputation.
At this writing, more than $145,000 has been donated to agencies in Tucson, on behalf of the victims. According to the Arizona Daily Star, more than $92,000 has been donated to the Community Food Bank, while an additional $53,000 has been contributed to the American Red Cross.
Chron National reports, “A spokesman for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona says the money is going into a restricted fund. The food bank will wait until Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, tell them how to use the funds.”
Ben Franklin has been credited with saying, “The best thing to give … to all men, charity.” Every day the American people continue to abide by those words, often without seeking credit for their actions.
Their humility and heroism are certainly worthy of honor.
— Photo: AP Images
