Community College of Aurora's (CCA) Director of Student Life
Angie Tiedeman was proud of her husband before he ever left for Iraq.
"He has always been very patriotic and very dedicated to the U.S. mission in Iraq," she said.
Now, the U.S. Army will join her in honoring her husband,
Lt. David Tiedeman, for his heroics saving the life of a fellow serviceman during a fierce firefight 25 miles east of Baghdad in April 2005.
Tiedeman, an Army reservist and 1992 CCA graduate, was with his platoon of 24 U.S. soldiers and approximately 200 Iraqi soldiers searching for a weapons cache south of Balad Ruz when they were ambushed by fierce enemy fire.
It was during this battle that Lt. Tiedeman risked his life to save
Sgt. Robert Betterton, a fellow soldier who, because they were under such heavy fire, decided to clear a trench for them but was shot eight times and trapped there with insurgent gunfire and grenades flying overhead.
Knowing that if he survived, he would need to carry his injured comrade out of that ditch, Tiedeman left his rifle behind and jumped into the ditch with only a handgun to provide cover for Betterton, who pleaded with Tiedeman to save himself.
Tiedeman refused to leave him behind, vowing to save Betterton or die trying.
Although the platoon lost two U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi soldiers, they emerged from the battle victorious with 17 insurgents dead and the rest driven out.
On Monday, Tiedeman received word from the U.S. Army that he will receive the Silver Star for his actions alongside Betterton and another soldier,
Sgt. Richard Stooksbury. Only one in every 250 veterans of military service receives this honor.
The date and location of the award ceremony hasn't been announced yet.
"I don't know if it will be presented at the Pentagon or at my old unit in Tennessee," Tiedeman said.
One thing he is sure of -- his wife Angie will be at his side when and wherever it is.
"I'm so proud of him," she said. "And I'm grateful to our extended family at CCA who were all so supportive during that tough time while he was away. I know they'll also be with us in spirit."
Lt. Tiedeman studied criminal justice at the CCA, then transferred to Metropolitan State College of Denver where he received his bachelor's degree in criminology.