Aid to local cop nets sergeant meeting with president

  • Published
  • By Jennifer West
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) --  Saving an Albuquerque policeman's life and receiving the Airman's Medal for his actions earned a Kirtland pararescueman the right to welcome the president during a recent visit to the area.

Staff Sgt. David Biddinger, assigned to the National Assessment Group here, met President George W. Bush as he arrived for a whirlwind three-city visit to New Mexico.

Sergeant Biddinger's spot to greet his commander in chief was the result of his "above and beyond" action that helped save the life of an Albuquerque law enforcement officer who was shot in the head. His actions earned him the Airman's Medal, a decoration given to armed forces members who perform heroic actions, usually at the voluntary risk of life, although not in actual combat.

Sergeant Biddinger and his then-fiancée, Teresa, raced to help Albuquerque Police Sgt. Carol Oleksak, whom they saw struck and shot as they passed in their vehicle. Their decision to turn back and help the officer put them directly in the line of danger from the armed transient who harmed the officer.

Providing emergency medical care to the critically injured policeman earned Sergeant Biddinger Albuquerque Police Department's highest civilian medal, the Airman's Medal and the chance to greet the president; however, he said, in his mind, Teresa, now his wife and mother of their 3-month-old, shares the glory as well for her part. She called 9-1-1 and gave emergency authorities a description of the offender while being in danger herself.

So, what does a staff sergeant talk about with the nation's commander in chief?

Sergeant Biddinger said not a lot, really. There was little time for much other than ”Yes, Mr. President" or "Thank you, Mr. President."

"He said 'Thanks for doing such a great job,'" Sergeant Biddinger explained about his presidential meeting.

Knowing the president frequently has PJs protecting him while he runs, Sergeant Biddinger gave President Bush a PJ coin on behalf of all the Kirtland pararescuemen to express their pride and honor to serve their president and country.

"I said, 'I know this isn't the first time a PJ has given you a coin,'" Sergeant Biddinger admitted. But the president "recognized the career field and asked if I'd been to the ranch yet."

"No?" the president responded. "Well, maybe we could do something about that."

Unfortunately, the sergeant's impending transfer is likely to prevent that opportunity.

"But it'd be great if he'd request me by name to run with him," Sergeant Biddinger said.

Before the president arrived, Sergeant Biddinger admitted he was a little edgy with anticipation.

"I was at attention until he came up and shook my hand, then I started to relax a little bit," he said. "It was pretty quick.

"Talking with him felt like I was talking with just a normal guy ... he was in a button-down shirt and no tie. I was respectful but at the same time I felt comfortable."

Sergeant Biddinger said he thought about meeting the president the whole night before and exactly what that meant.

"My day-to-day activities compared to his: I worry about my next jump or my next training event, pararescue stuff; and he's worried about world events and whether or not 10 more soldiers got killed in Fallujah, [Iraq]" the sergeant said. "How different his worries are compared to mine, how much responsibility he has compared to me ... that's just an amazing responsibility to have to be the leader of so many people and make such important decisions. And ... here I am meeting him. That doesn't happen every day."

As the president left for his day's activities, Sergeant Biddinger said he told him to "keep up the good work."

Sergeant Biddinger has been in the Air Force for 14 years and has served as a reservist and pararescuemen instructor. He rejoined the active-duty ranks as a PJ in 1998. (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)