The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

Milligan receives Boy Scouts' National Meritorious Action Award

By Susan Pierce; Staff Writer, Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

Three Ooltewah young men are being recognized for their bravery and quick thinking in rescuing an infant from a rain-swollen creek last spring.

In a ceremony Monday night, Zachary Milligan, a fifth-grader at Ooltewah Elementary School, received the National Meritorious Action Certificate of Merit from Boy Scouts of America. The national award recognizes heroism through lifesaving or other notable acts of service that put into practice Scouting skills and ideals.

"Only one Scout in the council per year might qualify for meritorious action awards. They are few and far between," said Kevin Beirne, finance and marketing director of the Cherokee Council of Boy Scouts of America.

CJ Baker and Lebron Tinker, a junior and freshman respectively at Ooltewah High School, who also were involved in the rescue, are being nominated by the Ooltewah JROTC Department for a national award.

"CJ and Lebron are being nominated for the JROTC Medal of Heroism," said Sgt. Al Conrad, OHS instructor. "It is a military medal awarded by the Department of the Army. This will be the first time in the four years I've been here that any student has been nominated."

According to Zachary's Scoutmaster, Dennis Williams of Pack 3150, the three boys were walking the Collegedale greenway on May 1, 2004, when they observed a young girl approximately 5 or 6 years of age pushing a 6-month-old infant in a stroller as their mother walked with friends several feet behind. The boys said the child would push the stroller then let go, watching as it would glide forward.

As the three friends watched, the child let the stroller get out of control, and it rolled down an embankment into the creek.

"It had rained the night before, causing the creek water to rise," said CJ. "The water covered the stroller and baby. The mom was unable to reach the baby in time to help. My friends and I ran toward the baby to help, but we were unable to reach the stroller in time. We jumped into the creek water."

As the boys ran toward the water, CJ stripped off his shirt and tossed it aside before diving into the creek water. Deborah Baker, CJ's mother, said her son later told her the "water was just over his head and he's 5 feet, 10 inches."

"The stroller had submerged and the current was carrying it down the creek," said Mrs. Baker.

"Everyone went after the baby right into the muddy creek water," said Zachary.

"CJ and Lebron dived down into the water to grab the stroller and pull it back up to the surface," said Mrs. Baker. "Zach had waded out to his neck, when CJ yelled it was too deep and for him to keep the snakes away. Zach didn't know how to swim well then, but he's learned now."

Zach explained the boys had earlier seen snakes in the water. So he grabbed a large stick and began beating the surface of the water around them. As the older boys brought the infant to the surface, Zachary unstrapped her from the stroller.

"Luckily, CJ took his shirt off before going into the creek," said Zachary. "We wrapped the baby in his shirt so she wouldn't get sick. We got out and gave the baby back to her mom. She offered us some money, but we told her no, it was something anyone would have done.

"Then we hurried to my mama's house because we didn't want to be late getting home," added the Scout.

When the boys' families shared the story with Mr. Williams, he began the documentation process for the National Meritorious Action Award, which culminated nine months later with the certificate presentation.

"The process was delayed for several weeks while we tried to locate the mother of the rescued baby, but she never came forward," said Mr. Williams.

Mr. Williams said a Scout investigative team comprised of Programs Director Dexter Cantelou, District Executive Natalie Stephens and himself verified the event's facts, interviewed people involved and filled out forms. That information along with statements from each boy was submitted to Boy Scouts' national headquarters.

"Any troop would be proud to have a Scout like Zachary," said CJ.

"These young men thought not of their own safety, but the value of human life," said Mrs. Baker. "Zachary's act of kindness demonstrates the meaning of what a Scout should be."