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By Craig Palmer

Minneapolis—Nathan Lund, a student at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, and his wife Christine, a nurse, rushed to the scene within minutes of the Aug. 1, 2007, bridge collapse to provide emergency medical care to injured victims.

"I had just taken a bite of my sandwich when the phone rang," he told the ADA News. His younger brother, Chris, also a UM dental student, was the caller, "telling me he had just witnessed the 35W bridge collapse." It was just after 6 during evening rush hour. "Hearing that and imagining hundreds of casualties, I told my wife I was going to go down to see if I could help. I told my brother to stay clear of the area and call 911. My wife insisted on going with me so together we headed to the site, arriving about 10 minutes after the disaster.

"After driving, running and taking a boat, we worked our way to every corner of the bridge site, ending on the south corner of the northeast side of the bridge where we met up with three medical students. Together we triaged and helped to evacuate the severely injured victims as the EMS (emergency workers) brought them up from the wreckage. After all the wounded were evacuated we proceeded to a Red Cross holding station where we stayed till 10 p.m. in case more victims were found."

Leaving, they encountered a news reporter who "asked a few questions and I told him some facts and left not thinking anything of it. The next day my wife and I were called by ABC World News saying they had chosen us for their national Person of the Week segment. I told my (Army Reserve) commander about the incident and about the person of the week honor. After that, I was told I was being recommended for an Army award. Eight months later I was told I will be receiving the Soldier's Medal."

The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States who distinguishes himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The chief of the Army Dental Corps presented the medal at a May 1 ceremony. (See story here.) The medal is authorized by act of Congress and awarded by the president of the United States.

Nathan Lund reflected on the award in an e-mail communication with the ADA News.

"I feel very honored and humbled that they would choose to award it to me. They also awarded my wife a certificate for patriotic civilian service and pin to wear to military functions. I was very glad her efforts were acknowledged since she was with me every step of the way and at equal risk. But, as I reported back in August, our efforts were small compared to the heroism displayed by the firefighters who placed themselves in the most dangerous  positions to rescue the injured. In my opinion they are all heroes and Minnesota owes them a lot.
"I have been in the Army since 2004 when I signed up with the health professions scholarship program and was commissioned as a lieutenant. This program paid me a substantial salary while I was in school and paid my tuition. In return I will owe one year as an Army dentist for every year of scholarship. I have no regrets about joining and would recommend it very highly to any dental or medical student. After dental school I will be going to Fort Bragg, N.C., and recently found out that I will be attending an Army endodontic residency program. I was fortunate to pick up an Army residency.

"It has been my dream to be an endodontist, and I probably would never have had an opportunity to realize that dream had it not been for the Army. I hope someday to attend airborne ('jump') school in the Army and eventually get stationed in Europe after my endodontic residency. My wife and I are so excited to be finally going on to active duty."