Private First Class Patrick Montgomery said he was at the right place at the right time last November when he rendered aid to a man who had been shot in the leg during a robbery at a Fayetteville pawn shop. Thursday night, Montgomery received the Exemplary Citizen Award for his actions.
He was driving by when he heard gunshots and let his instincts take over.
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"It probably wasn't smart going up there, but he probably would've been dead if I didn't," Montgomery told ABC11 in November.
Montgomery entered the shop to discover the man, 63-year-old Ron Ruple, had been shot and was losing blood fast.
Montgomery was able to create a tourniquet with a nearby cable --and stabilize the man until paramedics arrived. Ruple and Montgomery reunited at the store three weeks later.
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"He immediately knew me," Montgomery said at Thursday's service. "He shook my hand. He said you don't know how thankful I am for what you did for me."
Montgomery has been stationed on Fort Bragg for approximately a year. His wife and baby also attended the ceremony.