COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Five airmen from Shaw Air Force Base were recognized by the American Red Cross on Wednesday for heroic actions that saved lives in two separate incidents earlier this year.

Senior Airman Patterson Young received the prestigious Lifesaving Award Certificate of Merit—the highest honor the Red Cross bestows—for his quick response to a two-car accident on Interstate 77. Young was the first to arrive at the scene and immediately began assisting victims.

“My first instinct was to tend to whoever was there—it looked kind of bad,” Young said.

He used his own shirt to create a sling for a driver with a severely broken wrist, then ran to a second vehicle that had flipped over.

“There was blood from her arm that was broken,” Young said. “I’m grateful to be recognized, but I

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