{"id":28678,"date":"2017-03-18T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-18T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/03\/18\/this-army-chaplain-stopped-a-machete-wielding-soldier-during-a-hostage-situation\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:44:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:44:22","slug":"this-army-chaplain-stopped-a-machete-wielding-soldier-during-a-hostage-situation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2017\/03\/18\/this-army-chaplain-stopped-a-machete-wielding-soldier-during-a-hostage-situation\/","title":{"rendered":"This Army chaplain stopped a machete-wielding soldier during a hostage situation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Chaplain Matthew Christensen went to counsel a soldier who was having a hard time, he didn&#8217;t realize it would escalate into a hostage situation. <br\/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christensen\u00a0\u2014\u00a0who was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, at the time of the incident\u00a0\u2014\u00a0arrived at the soldier&#8217;s home to find him intoxicated and armed with a machete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;He at first was suicidal but then grew more and more hostile throughout the evening,&#8221; Christensen said of the Feb. 28, 2015, night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually, Christensen said, another chaplain and the soldier&#8217;s roommate arrived, and the soldier was talking to some of his family members on speakerphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;He basically told them that they had failed him in his growing-up years to protect him from his abusive father,&#8221; the captain said. &#8220;Then he declared that he had three hostages, and that he was going to kill all of us that night to get back at his family.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about two hours, the soldier pinned his roommate against the wall with the machete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;When he went to swing the machete, there weren&#8217;t too many other options but to physically jump in and grab and restrain the soldier,&#8221; Christensen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Christensen had the soldier under control, the other chaplain kicked away the machete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;All I was thinking of was how do we get out of this situation without somebody being hurt,&#8221; he said. <br\/> <br\/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4256\" height=\"2832\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-2.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-2.jpg.jpg 4256w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-2.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-2.jpg.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-2.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,681 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-2.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1022 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-2.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1363 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4256px) 100vw, 4256px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Capt. Matthew Christensen, an Army chaplain, received the Soldier&#8217;s Medal on Tuesday at Fort Benning, Georgia.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Photo Credit: Patrick A. Albright\/Army<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/>Christensen said that although tackling a soldier isn&#8217;t a preferred counseling technique for a chaplain, he knew he had to do something once the soldier was physically threatening his roommate. <br\/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christensen received the Solder&#8217;s Medal on Tuesday for his actions that night in Alaska. He is now assigned to 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment, at Fort Benning, Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recommended for the medal by his battalion commander at Fort Wainwright, the chaplain said he was &#8220;pretty surprised&#8221; when he found out it was approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I thought it would be downgraded or lost in the system somewhere,&#8221; said Christensen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The medal is awarded to a service member who distinguishes themselves by heroism that doesn&#8217;t involve actual conflict with the enemy, according to the Army. <br\/> <br\/> <b>&#8216;A soldier&#8217;s chaplain&#8217;<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lt. Col. Joel Newsom, Christensen&#8217;s battalion commander who submitted the medal paperwork, said the chaplain&#8217;s priority was always to take care of the soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;What impressed me was Matt&#8217;s judgment and the fact that he waited until there were no other options until he physically restrained [the soldier] to prevent the loss of somebody else&#8217;s life,&#8221; said Newsom, who is now assigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.\u00a0 <br\/> <br\/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4256\" height=\"2832\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-3.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-3.jpg.jpg 4256w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-3.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-3.jpg.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-3.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,681 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-3.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1022 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/soldiers-medal-chaplain-3.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1363 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4256px) 100vw, 4256px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Maj. Gen. Eric Wesley, Maneuver Center of Excellence commanding general, congratulates Capt. Matthew Christensen, along with his wife, Jessica, on receiving the Soldier&#8217;s Medal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/>Newsom said Christensen was on the ground at every training event at Fort Wainwright, whether it was foot marches or snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in 20-below weather. <br\/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Which is why soldiers trusted him and respected him and allowed him to do his job,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Christensen&#8217;s personal time, Newsom said he would take soldiers on hunting and fishing trips to build relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;To see someone so deserving receiving that really high-level award just thrilled me,&#8221; Newsom said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Soldier&#8217;s Medal citation, &#8220;Chaplain Christensen had only a moment to react and risked his own life to save the life of another soldier. His efforts made a difference and ultimately saved two soldiers&#8217; lives.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christensen said he testified at the intoxicated soldier&#8217;s court-martial, and the soldier was able to receive extensive counseling through the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Besides the other chaplain who was there that night, Christensen credits his wife, Jessica, for being there emotionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;She&#8217;s been in the military alongside me, not as a service member but as a spouse, since 1993\u00a0\u2014\u00a0always supportive and always willing to be there even in difficult times like that,&#8221; he said. <br\/> <br\/> <i>Charlsy Panzino covers the Guard and Reserve, training, technology, operations and features for Army Times and Air Force Times. Email her at <a class=\"\" href=\"mailto:cpanzino@militarytimes.com\" target=\"_blank\">cpanzino@militarytimes.com<\/a>. \u00a0<\/i> <br\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The captain received the Soldier&#8217;s Medal for his 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