COL Bill Badger, Hero of Rep. Giffords Shooting in Arizona, appears on
Veterans NOW Radio Program
Hero of Tucson Shooting Colonel Bill Badger: “My Military Training Made Me React”
South Orange, NJ - January 15, 2011 - Bill Badger, the 74-year-old retired Army Colonel who
subdued the shooter during the rampage in Tucson , Arizona last Saturday, credited his military training
for the heroism he displayed in preventing more innocent lives from being lost.
In an interview on the Veterans NOW Radio Program, Badger discussed how he acted so quickly
amidst the chaos in the attack that left 6 dead and 13 injured, including Congresswoman Gabrielle
Giffords, who was shot point blank in the head.
“It was my military training that made me react the way I did,” he said. “I would not have acted without
my military training and background.”
Colonel Badger helped bring an end to the tragedy when he took the assailant to the ground as local
authorities were alerted of the incident, all despite suffering a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Badger had attended the rally after exchanging several e-mails with the Congresswoman regarding
veterans’ issues. Giffords is familiar with the military world, as she is the wife of Astronaut Mark Kelly,
who also serves as a Captain in the U.S. Navy. Badger was invited by the Congresswoman’s staff to
attend the event and meet Giffords in person.
“We had communicated back and forth on military matters. Just by email. I had never met her
personally. But she was very responsive to me. Whenever I would email her, she would respond back.
She was exceptionally good about answering and keeping me informed about what I asked,” he said.
Badger, who himself did not see combat while in the military, said that this experience has given him a
newfound appreciation for the mental health issues that current veterans can face when returning home
from war.
“I can see now…when something happens to you, how you can respond emotionally,” he said. “I saw a
picture on TV recently of people sleeping in the airport during the blizzard on the east coast. I began to
choke up because the image of those people lying there reminded me of all the bodies that were around
me [during the shooting].”
On the show, Badger discussed his experience through the horrific ordeal. Jack Fanous, Executive
Director of the G.I. Go Fund and Host of Veterans NOW, had the opportunity to speak with Colonel
Badger about the heroism he showed in such a terrifying moment.
“He displayed the character and strength of an individual who has served in our military,” said Fanous.
“He is 74-years-old, and had just been hit by a bullet in the back of the head. Yet he had the presence
of mind to stay calm in an extremely tense and horrifying moment and react. He showed that no matter
what the age or circumstances, once a veteran, always a veteran.”
Veterans NOW Radio Program
Hero of Tucson Shooting Colonel Bill Badger: “My Military Training Made Me React”
South Orange, NJ - January 15, 2011 - Bill Badger, the 74-year-old retired Army Colonel who
subdued the shooter during the rampage in Tucson , Arizona last Saturday, credited his military training
for the heroism he displayed in preventing more innocent lives from being lost.
In an interview on the Veterans NOW Radio Program, Badger discussed how he acted so quickly
amidst the chaos in the attack that left 6 dead and 13 injured, including Congresswoman Gabrielle
Giffords, who was shot point blank in the head.
“It was my military training that made me react the way I did,” he said. “I would not have acted without
my military training and background.”
Colonel Badger helped bring an end to the tragedy when he took the assailant to the ground as local
authorities were alerted of the incident, all despite suffering a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Badger had attended the rally after exchanging several e-mails with the Congresswoman regarding
veterans’ issues. Giffords is familiar with the military world, as she is the wife of Astronaut Mark Kelly,
who also serves as a Captain in the U.S. Navy. Badger was invited by the Congresswoman’s staff to
attend the event and meet Giffords in person.
“We had communicated back and forth on military matters. Just by email. I had never met her
personally. But she was very responsive to me. Whenever I would email her, she would respond back.
She was exceptionally good about answering and keeping me informed about what I asked,” he said.
Badger, who himself did not see combat while in the military, said that this experience has given him a
newfound appreciation for the mental health issues that current veterans can face when returning home
from war.
“I can see now…when something happens to you, how you can respond emotionally,” he said. “I saw a
picture on TV recently of people sleeping in the airport during the blizzard on the east coast. I began to
choke up because the image of those people lying there reminded me of all the bodies that were around
me [during the shooting].”
On the show, Badger discussed his experience through the horrific ordeal. Jack Fanous, Executive
Director of the G.I. Go Fund and Host of Veterans NOW, had the opportunity to speak with Colonel
Badger about the heroism he showed in such a terrifying moment.
“He displayed the character and strength of an individual who has served in our military,” said Fanous.
“He is 74-years-old, and had just been hit by a bullet in the back of the head. Yet he had the presence
of mind to stay calm in an extremely tense and horrifying moment and react. He showed that no matter
what the age or circumstances, once a veteran, always a veteran.”
