3 Airmen At Tinker AFB Credited As Heroes For Saving Life Of Shocked Contractor

Three airmen at Tinker Air Force Base are being hailed as heroes for saving the life of a contracted electrician who was shocked while working. 

Senior Airman Thomas Stege, Senior Airman Victoria Slaughter and Senior Airman Khoa Dang, all 507th Force Support Squadron radio frequency systems technicians, helped save a man’s life on October 24. 

It was around 10:30 a.m. when the three airmen were doing inventory in a warehouse when the unexpected happened.  

“We heard a loud boom, and the power goes out,” said Dang. “That’s when all three of us went outside. We heard people screaming and yelling for help.” 

The three airmen found contracted electrician Kirk Hull unconscious. One airman started CPR, while another called for help, and another went inside for help. 

The airmen credit their training for helping them through.  

“A lot of what our training helps with is social situations, being able to respond with a calm, cool, collected head in situations like this,” said Stege. 

Hull was stabilized and brought to a local hospital. The family said he’s doing fine now. 

In the middle of a bad year, these airmen are proud to have helped save a life. 

“I’m glad that we were able to be where we were at that time because we just really happened to be in a good position to be able to help,” said Slaughter.  

The three airmen have been submitted for awards for their bravery. Stege has been submitted for the Airman’s Medal and the Noncommissioned Officers Association Vanguard Award, awarded to a single member from each of the armed services who has distinguished himself or herself through acts of heroism.  

Slaughter and Dang have been submitted for the Air Force Commendation Medal with Heroism. 

Stege and Dang both enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in 2018 and Slaughter joined in 2019.