Student receives Army award for 35W collapse response

St. Paul, Minn. — The U.S. Army has given one of its highest honors to a dental student who helped rescue victims of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.

2nd Lt. Nathan Lund received the Soldier's Medal during a ceremony Thursday at the University of Minnesota. The Soldier's Medal recognizes individual acts of heroism outside of combat.

Lund is credited with rushing to the scene of the bridge collapse within minutes of the accident and providing medical care to victims. He says receiving the Army's recognition is a great honor.

"I'm flattered beyond expression that the Army would think I deserve something this because this is a big honor and for (Maj.) Gen. (Russell) Czerw to come down and present it himself, the head of the Dental Corps which I'm going into, means a lot to me," Lund said.

Lund has been attending the U of M through the Army's Health Professions Scholarship Program. He will enter Army active duty in June.

His wife Christine, a registered nurse, was also given a military citation for helping bridge collapse victims.