Heroic rescue by JROTC student leads to rare 'Gold Valor Award'

It wasn't just me who helped that woman and her child. It was the first responders. It was my parents. There's even two ladies in the background that were helping out, and I can't thank them enough. My name is Joshua Haddad. I'm 17 years old, and I was a part of the Air Force Junior ROTC program at Salem County Vocational Technical High School. Back in May, I was driving back home from church, and I saw a motor vehicle accident, smoking car, and then there's electrical wires all over the ground. And then I see a woman and her child that are in distress. She skated off towards the center area right there. We all kind of rushed out. I remember prying her door open, getting the woman outside the car. It was around nine almost ten o'clock at night. I remember going around the other side to help my father take out the baby because the car seat was a little jammed. And at the end of it all, we were able to get the mom and her child out safe. I'm so proud of you. Thank you so much. Josh approached my desk and said, Colonel, did I do the right thing? I went up to Sergeant Davis. I said, we have a Gold Valor Award here. Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Haddad, front and center. It's the highest award that any Air Force junior ROTC cadet can win. You have to do something that actually risks your life in trying to save someone. Above and beyond the call of duty. It's a very rare occurrence that this award is presented. We submitted it back in June, and it just got approved by Air Force Junior ROTC headquarters in September. Oh, we are so proud of our son. Congratulations. Thank you. I appreciate you guys, truly. You never know when you're going to encounter a situation in life or when we need help. Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate you. You know, he rose to the occasion. Hopefully, this will be something that he will continue throughout his life to see the need to help. Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate you truly. I mean, I have Colonel and Senior who are inside the ROTC program. I have my parents. And whenever I've been around those people, I saw the trait of always help those who needed help. I miss you, bud. Miss you too, man. As for college, I am at Rowan College at South Jersey. I'm taking two majors of entrepreneurship and chemistry. Hey, how's it going, man? It's been a pleasure. Nice seeing you again, bro. Many people go through dark moments where they feel hopeless and they don't have a way out. And you just being a guiding light can help them regain their footing. We became a light to that woman and her child so they were able to see another day. And I'd like to ask all you guys to be a light in someone else's life.