Award Citation:

At approximately 6:20pm on October 19, 2003, Beverly Curtice (mother of Cadet Kenneth Griswold) was sitting at the kitchen table while Cadet Griswold was assisting with dinner preparations.

Ongoing medical conditions require Cadet Griswold's mother to take a large number of daily prescription medications twice daily. While sitting at the kitchen table taking her evening medications, Beverly began to choke.

At first, Cadet Griswold thought his mother was playing some kind of prank but he quickly realized that her sudden silence, panicked look, and the grasping of her hands around her own neck (the international choking sign) were not in jest but that this was a serious, life-threatening condition.

After recognizing the situation, Cadet Griswold remained calm and began to administer abdominal thrusts (commonly known as the "Heimlich Maneuver") in an attempt to dislodge the blockage in his mother's throat. His first attempts were unsuccessful so Cadet Griswold continued the abdominal thrusts until the blockage was dislodged and his mother began to gasp for air.

Luckily, Cadet Griswold was among the Cadets and Senior Members of his squadron who had just completed an American Red Cross Standard First Aid Course only a few days prior to his mother's choking incident.

Cadet Griswold's ability to recognize an emergency, remain calm, and follow the appropriate emergency steps learned through his American Red Cross training resulted in him saving his mother's life.