West Virginia National Guard Heroes Honored for Bravery in Deadly DC Terror Attack

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were awarded the Soldier’s Medal and Airman’s Medal on Monday for their heroic actions during a deadly terrorist attack in Washington, D.C. The ceremony at the Pentagon recognized Major Ryan Reynolds of the Army National Guard and Major Edwin Stanfield of the Air National Guard for their bravery under fire.

The attack occurred the day before Thanksgiving when a gunman opened fire on National Guard personnel patrolling the city. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe were shot during the incident. Beckstrom succumbed to her wounds, while Wolfe was critically injured but is now recovering.

Reynolds and Stanfield responded immediately, neutralizing the shooter and providing aid to their wounded comrades. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised their courage, framing their actions as a timeless battle of good versus evil and highlighting the difficult split-second choices they made.

“When in that moment you could have made a number of different choices, it was an impossible situation, almost unforeseen unfolding in a matter of seconds. Yes, there’s training, yes there’s instinct, there’s a lot of things but ultimately there is a choice and you chose action,” Hegseth said.

Wolfe was present at the ceremony alongside Beckstrom’s parents, a somber reminder of the attack’s deadly consequences. Hegseth closed by thanking the heroes for saving lives and honoring the memory of their fallen comrade.

This incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing threats faced by those protecting our cities and the bravery required to confront domestic terrorism. The recognition of Reynolds and Stanfield not only honors their sacrifice but also calls attention to the human toll of violence that too often goes unreported.