Patrick Caughey of Plum Receives Silver Valor Award

Cadet Patrick Caughey, a freshman, was honored last week when he received the Silver Valor Award—the second highest Air Force JROTC award.

Caughey, who also is a member of Boy Scout Troop 111 sponsored by , showed leadership last summer when he helped a man after a tree limb fell on his tent during a scouting camping trip.

School board member Andy Drake said Jeffrey Burnett, the victim, acknowledged that Caughey was the first person to come to his aid and applied pressure to his head wound until the medics arrived.

"He also stressed that Patrick was a calming presence during the incident," Drake said.

The highest JROTC award requires the same amount of heroism needed to receive the Silver Valor Award and a risk of life.

In the program's six-year history at Plum High School, a cadet never has received the distringuished Silver Valor Award.

The school board also presented Caughey with a certificate of recognition.