A soldier's first fishing trip to Alaska's Copper River netted a unique haul: no salmon, one Soldier's Medal.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Staff Sgt. Josh Schneiderman had spent two hours on the river hoping to snare fish from the fast-moving water with a net, a process known as dip-netting. The rushing water makes the technique dangerous; anglers generally wear life jackets, and some tie themselves to trees.
Schneiderman and his wife, Gayle, had packed life vests and had "heard horror stories" in advance of their June 2014 trip, he said, but he wasn’t expecting to see a fellow fisherman float past him — the man had lost his balance trying to bring in what Schneiderman called a "monster salmon."
The staff sergeant didn't have time to call on his Army training, or even on his days as a high-school swimmer: "I saw a human being that needed help and assistance," he said. "I didn't think about it, I just reacted."
Schneiderman rushed back to his truck and grabbed a life vest. He ran alongside the bank of the river until he caught up with his fellow fisherman, then hurled the vest into the water. The man grabbed it, and Schneiderman jumped into the water.
"I was able to hang on to a rock that was sticking out of the water with one hand, and I reached out with my right hand, made every attempt to gain contact with the individual, and we were able to gain contact," he said. "I mustered up as much strength as I could and I was able to pull him and myself back to shore."
Staff Sgt. Josh Schneiderman, a forward observer with 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, receives applause from Maj. Gen. Bryan Owens, commanding general of U.S. Army Alaska, after Owens presented him with the Soldier's Medal in a Friday ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Daniel Love/Army
Gayle Schneiderman, a nurse, gave the fisherman a once-over, the man's family arrived from upriver, and the Schneidermans' role in the rescue was over. Well, almost: First, the man came back to their truck and gave the staff sergeant a big hug.
"That's when it kind of hit me that I'd saved this man's life," said Schneiderman, who said he never spoke to the fisherman again.
And second, a number of Schneiderman’s co-workers had made the trip to the river that day, and when word got around the office, a warrant officer put him up for the highest non-combat valor award.
Schneiderman said he learned he was up for the honor about a year ago, and learned he'd be receiving it in late 2015. The ceremony took place Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
"I never gave any thought to being classified as a hero, or whatever," said the 43-year-old, a forward observer with 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
Schneiderman, of Sacramento, California, plans to stay in Alaska after retirement — he put in his paperwork Jan. 4 after 21 years in uniform.
Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.
