FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Three to five seconds. That is how long it takes for an M67 hand grenade to explode after the last of three safety features has been disabled.
Last July, a Fort Jackson Soldier's quick reaction during that time frame ensured that no one was hurt during a mishap at Remagen hand grenade range.
For his actions that day, Staff Sgt. Mercedes Amaro, Company B, 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, was awarded the Soldier's Medal July 2, the highest decoration for heroism in a non-combat incident.
When Amaro, an instructor at Remagen, stepped into bay four of the live grenade area with a Basic Combat Training Soldier July 31, 2009, everything appeared to go according to plan. The Soldier had trained with dummy grenades and was prepared for her turn at the live range.
"That day, I didn't think anything was going to happen," Amaro said.
