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David Foland, administrative support technician, Portland, Ore., MEPS, center, is presented with the Western Sector Coin for Excellence by Marine Corps Col. Jesse Sjoberg, USMEPCOM Western Sector commander. Foland was recognized for intervening and disarming a possible active shooter in Troutdale, Ore.

David Foland, administrative support technician, Portland, Ore., MEPS, center, is presented with the Western Sector Coin for Excellence by Marine Corps Col. Jesse Sjoberg, USMEPCOM Western Sector commander. Foland was recognized for intervening and disarming a possible active shooter in Troutdale, Ore. (Derrik Noack/U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command)

An Army veteran has been recognized for his bravery and quick thinking in thwarting a would-be shooter at a pub in Troutdale, Ore., in February.

David Foland, an administrative support technician at the Portland, Ore., Military Entrance Processing Station, received the Western Sector Coin for Excellence on March 7 for his actions on the evening of Feb. 16, according to a news release from the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command.

A visibly intoxicated man entered the pub with a shotgun tucked under his arm around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and attempted to confront the bartender. As some patrons fled, Foland and another patron at the pub grabbed the shotgun, tackled the man to the ground and held him down until sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, the release said.

The events took place at Skyland Pub in Troutdale, according to Portland TV station KPTV. Deputies said Foland and the other patron grabbed the shotgun and hit the attempted shooter in the face with it, the station reported.

A 24-year Army veteran, Foland retired in 2011 as a first sergeant in the infantry. In addition to his Army experience, he has spent 14 years as a semi-professional, mixed martial arts fighter, according to the release.

“The police were very happy with how it went down, but it could have been so much worse,” Foland said. “My guardian angel definitely works overtime.”

The Western Sector Command Team — Marine Corps Col. Jesse Sjoberg and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Rendon — presented Foland with the coin during their annual visit to Portland MEPS.

“In the Army we are taught to stay alert at all times, have a battle buddy and look after one another,” said Army 1st Sgt. Nicholas Berkey, Portland MEPS senior enlisted adviser, in the release. “This dependability is something we all know about Dave. I am so grateful he was there and able to help protect those people from something that could have turned out to be incredibly tragic.”

Brian McElhiney is a digital editor and occasional reporter for Stars and Stripes. He has worked as a music reporter and editor for publications in New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Oregon. One of his earliest journalistic inspirations came from reading Stars and Stripes as a kid growing up in Okinawa, Japan.

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