The 2021 NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola campaign is more than just a military appreciation platform -- it’s a campaign that salutes heroes next door. Each week, NASCAR.com will highlight multiple individuals who have made a difference with their service both in the military and to their communities.
In the latest profiles, NASCAR.com is highlighting two 2020 USO Service Members of the Year: United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Nigel C. Archer Jr. (USO Airman of the Year) and Connecticut Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Sikander S. Rahman (USO National Guardsmen of the Year).
RELATED: Learn more about NASCAR SalutesSSgt Archer (pictured above) was honored for displaying quick thinking and exemplary leadership and heroism while responding to an accident near Comayagua, Honduras. During time stationed at the Soto Cano Air Base, he noticed fresh skid marks disappearing from the road and realized a vehicle had driven off the road after being involved in a collision. SSgt Archer slid down a 50-foot wet embankment where he discovered an overturned van with a local family trapped inside. He immediately secured the scene and got the victims out of the vehicle. Despite not speaking the local language, he created a fast rescue plan and directed others to call for help as well as assessed injuries and placed an improvised splint on one victim’s broken arm. His lifesaving actions directly aided to the recovery of all nine passengers.
SSgt Archer is currently with the U.S. Air Force’s 728th Air Mobility Squadron and is from Havelock, North Carolina.
[caption id="attachment_310519" align="alignright" width="300"]A1C Rahman (pictured to the right) was honored for showing great bravery and carrying a calm demeanor during an off-base motor vehicle crash near Hartford, Connecticut. An off-duty police officer wrote the Connecticut Air National Guard to recount Rahman’s immediate actions. While police officers were eating lunch at a restaurant, the restaurant’s owner yelled for someone to call 911. Before the officer could exit his seat, he saw Rahman running for the door to see a motor vehicle flipping sideways down the street and coming to a final rest on its roof.
The lone occupant of the vehicle was yelling for help and to get out of the vehicle before it burned up. A1C Rahman dove onto the ground, carefully pushed the air bag away from the occupant and was able to gently remove the occupant from the vehicle. He remained on the scene to keep the victim calm and render first aid until medical personnel arrived. His courageous efforts resulted in the saving of a civilian’s life.
A1C Graham serves with the Connecticut Air National guard’s 103 Maintenance Squadron and hails from Windsor, Connecticut.
The details of the honorees brave actions were provided by the USO.