National Guardsmen Saved 6 People Being Swept Away in Hurricane. Just Moments Before, They Nearly Drowned Themselves

It has been a year since Hurricane Helene tore through the southeastern United States, leaving devastation in its wake. Now, two National Guardsmen are being recognized for their extraordinary bravery during the deadly storm.

Brandon Moore and Ethan Ward of the 776th Maintenance Company in Elizabethton, Tenn., were recently named the USO’s 2025 Service Members of the Year for rescuing six people from floodwaters in East Tennessee during Hurricane Helene, which claimed more than 200 lives across six states.

Both 24, Moore and Ward told PEOPLE they feel “extremely honored and humbled” to receive the prestigious award from the nonprofit dedicated to supporting America’s military personnel and their families.

They also expressed gratitude to God for not only helping them survive, but for giving them the strength to save others.

“I’d say we got pretty lucky, but I’d also like to say on the record that we had a little helping hand from the big man,” Ethan said.

Brandon added, “Really, it was just a blessing in disguise, because everything went up from there, and I’m just very blessed that God helped me out that day.”

Brandon joined the National Guard in October 2019 while still in college. “I wanted to do something a little more than just working,” he explained. Ethan, meanwhile, spent three and a half years on active duty in the U.S. Army before transitioning to the National Guard. The two met during Ethan’s first drill with the Guard about three years ago—unaware that they would soon face a life-changing mission together.

When Hurricane Helene struck, Brandon was off duty from his job as a security escort when his squad leader urgently summoned him to the armory. Soon, Brandon and Ethan were tasked with evacuating a local hospital. But floodwaters rose quickly as they traveled down Interstate 26, tipping over their vehicle just after passing Exit 37.

“The water was just unbelievable,” Ethan recalled, describing the scene as cinematic. Self-preservation became the immediate priority. Brandon’s main thought, he said, was the fear of never seeing his 2-year-old son, Winston, again.

Both men eventually climbed onto debris, reaching higher ground. After realizing they had narrowly escaped death, they shared an emotional hug. But their mission wasn’t over. Spotting six people being swept away by the waters, they leapt into action.

Racing to the victims—who clung to small pieces of debris—they faced a situation for which they had no formal training. “We never had any prior water training, or high water rescue training,” Brandon said, though he noted he had become a strong swimmer over the years.

The pair then helped load the victims into a Blackhawk helicopter, which carried everyone to safety. Brandon and Ethan were the last to be rescued. Despite minor injuries—Ethan had cuts, scrapes, and bruises, while Brandon sustained a small burn on his forehead and scarring on his hands—they emerged physically unharmed.

Upon returning home, Brandon was overwhelmed with emotion. “I just looked at my dad, and said, ‘Dad, I almost died today.’ … It was just very emotional,” he recalled.

Months later, both men learned they were being honored for their heroics while working the same shift. “I don’t think we both really knew how to react,” Brandon admitted. “It definitely wasn’t something I expected,” Ethan added. “At the end of the day, we were just doing our jobs. That was our purpose that day. It’s hard to be recognized and to have this honor.”

Now, they hope their story inspires others to persevere through life’s toughest moments.

“Even when you’re at your absolute lowest, and you think that there’s no way out … there’s always a way,” Ethan said. “It’s never acceptable to quit or give up under any circumstances. You’ve just got to fight with everything you’ve got, and focus on what you can control.”

Brandon emphasized, “The key takeaway should be … when we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change. No matter what, don’t ever quit and don’t ever give up. Fight for what you believe in and fight for what you love.”

To learn more and support the USO’s mission worldwide, visit USO.org.