Before he ever donned a military uniform, Staff Sgt. Jason Zedhkeia knew he would join the service and make it a lifelong career.
“When I was in high school, I had already made up my mind,” said Zedhkeia, recalling the military influence he experienced while growing up in the city of Majuro on the Marshall Islands. Zedhkeia is now an Army medical recruiter stationed in Columbus.
Zedhkeia is one of about 100 Soldier Heroes recognized for valor who will be honored at the 2011 Army All-American Bowl Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. Each Soldier Hero mentor will be matched with a high school all-star selected to play in the annual game.
In 2003, Zedhkeia was serving as a senior line medic with the 101st Airborne Division during the battle of Al-Hillah in Iraq. While medics are normally positioned toward the rear of a combat patrol in order to treat casualties, through a mixup, Zedhkeia found himself on the first vehicle.
The patrol element came under heavy fire and a fellow Soldier was wounded on his left side and fell. Zedhkeia left protective cover to provide aid and transferred the patient to the medical vehicle while under fire. He also aided the platoon leader who had taken bullet fragments to the arm. As the combat continued, Zedhkeia moved from man to man under fire to ensure they were “OK.”
One Soldier was killed in action and two were wounded during the firefight. For his actions, Gen. David H. Petraeus awarded Zedhkeia the Army Commendation Medal with V device.
Zedhkeia said being named a Soldier Hero is humbling and that he is honored to have the opportunity to share his experience.
“I don’t think I ever heard any big stories or much recognition about what we did, about what my guys did in that battle,” Zedhkeia said. “Many of them are still in the same unit and fighting in Afghanistan.”
Since his Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, Zedhkeia has re-enlisted and been promoted twice. He currently serves as a medical recruiter, seeking physicians, nurses and other medical specialists to serve in the Army.
“I enjoy medical recruiting,” he said. “I like meeting and networking with medical professionals.”
With about a year of recruiting under his belt, Zedhkeia is still considered “new” to the field. Even so, he has already commissioned two veterinarians, a dentist, an environmental scientist and a healthcare administrator. “Recruiting makes me feel very accomplished,” Zedhkeia said.
While he is no longer providing personal medical assistance to his fellow Soldiers, he said he knows what he is doing will make a difference.
