RAFB member honored for his actions in 2017 Las Vegas shooting

For his acts of heroism and bravery, Tech. Sgt. Jordan Benson, an aircraft battle damage repair technician in the 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group at Robins Air Force Base, was awarded the Airman’s Medal Friday at the Museum of Aviation.

The Airman’s Medal is presented to a U.S. Air Force Airman who distinguishes himself or herself by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of his or her life not involving actual combat.

Stated in a press release from Robins Public Affairs, Benson came to the aid of fellow concertgoers at the Route Ninety-One Harvest Country Music Festival, held in Las Vegas Nevada on Oct. 1, 2017.

This was the scene of a deadly mass shooting that killed 58 people and wounded 489. Upon hearing the gunshots, Benson quickly directed people to the ground while shielding five others with his own body. After a lull in the gunfire, he directed his family and fleeing individuals to a safe location under a set of bleachers.

He then went out to the exposed area and directed others to cover while rendering first aid—using improvised bandages—to multiple gunshot victims. Benson carried an immobilized victim out of the trampling danger to nearby medical personnel, and finally, he recruited triage volunteers to shepherd others to safety and care for the wounded.

Lieutenant General Gene Kirkland, Commander Air Force Sustainment Center, presented Benson the medal.

“Sgt. Benson, it may not have seemed like it at the time, but your presence gave reassurance to many people whose lives had suddenly spiraled into confusion. Your initial efforts to shield others from gunfire and leading strangers to safety, saved an untold number of lives,” Kirkland said.  

Benson has served in the 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group at Robins for more than two years, performing aircraft battle damage repair on C-130, F-15, C-5, C-17 and HH-60G aircraft, as well as serving on depot field teams that work with engineers to repair major structural damages and crash damage disabled aircraft recovery.

Benson, 31 and a California native, said he never imagined a weekend getaway would lead to a life-changing experience, but it did.

Benson and his wife of 11 years, Magali, along with 17 family members and friends, were in Las Vegas to attend the three-day Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in the fall of 2017. Benson’s other friends and family were scattered among the crowd. On the last night of the concert, Benson, his wife and a couple their friends heard a loud sound.

“My initial thoughts were that someone on the Las Vegas Strip had shot off some sort of fireworks,” he said. “When the second round of shots were fired, I immediately realized that someone was shooting. After realizing it was an active shooter, I immediately shoved my wife and friends to the ground and tried to find the best place to take cover. And after the first long burst of shots stopped, I got my wife and friends to take cover under a set of bleachers that were behind us.”

As Benson set out to help others, he said his wife begged him not to go back into danger, but Benson’s response was, “It’s my duty to help others.”

“All my years of being in the Air Force and having to take SABC classes, I used to think I will probably never have to use any of this training on an actual victim,” he said. “I am grateful that I received this training and was able to help as many people as I could. I was trying to help anyone and everyone that I could at the time. So to be presented with a prestigious medal such as the Airman’s Medal is truly a blessing and honor.”

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