Guard reservist honored with Silver Star
Article Last Updated: 08/29/2007 02:23:55 PM MDT
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Tiedeman, who has served as a platoon leader, was decorated Saturday in Millington, Tenn., at the 230th National Guard Armory.
On April 4, 2005, Tiedeman saved the life of Sgt. Robert Betterton during a wicked firefight about 25 miles east of Baghdad.
Tiedeman and Betterton were with a group of 24 U.S. soldiers and about 200 Iraqi soldiers whom they were training, searching for a weapons cache south of Balad Ruz.
Shot eight times, Betterton was pinned down by machine-gun fire in an irrigation ditch with rockets and hand grenades exploding around him.
Platoon leader Tiedeman, using his handgun to provide cover, rushed to the ditch and jumped in next to Betterton.
Tiedeman stuck with Betterton, insuring the wounded sergeant’s position was not overrun, and pulled him to safety when a break arose.
Two U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi soldiers were killed in the firefight. Seventeen insurgents were killed.
Betterton, of Memphis, received a Bronze Star with Valor at the same ceremony. Tiedeman pinned the medal on Betterton.
Tiedeman lives in Colorado with his wife, Angie, and two sons.
A graduate of Aurora’s Hinkley High School, Community College of Aurora and Metropolitan State College of Denver, Tiedeman served in Marine Corps from 1986 to 1990. He joined the Army Reserve in 2000.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
Source: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6751112
Even the Denver Post had to acknowlege this!
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