75-year-old Army veteran saves 16 children from library attack

When 16 children and their mothers found themselves trapped in a Morton Public Library as a man with hunting knives screamed, "I'm going to kill some people," a 75-year-old Army veteran came to their rescue.

James Vernon had no intention of letting 19-year-old Dustin Brown hurt any of the children in the library. Instead, he fought back. While Brown's knife cut two arteries and a tendon on Vernon's left hand, Vernon still managed to save the 16 children and their families.

Brown was free on bond while facing prosecution charges of possessing child pornography when he entered the library. He said that he wanted the children to die. He reportedly planned to kill the people in the library and then himself. Vernon said:

%shareLinks-quote="I tried to talk to him. I tried to settle him down. I didn't, but I did deflect his attention and calmed him a bit. I asked him if he was from Morton, did he go to high school. I asked what his problem was. He said his life sucks. That's a quote." type="quote" author="James Vernon" authordesc="" isquoteoftheday=%

As Vernon spoke to Brown, he got closer to the culprit. Vernon said that Brown backed away as he got closer, enabling Vernon to get in between Brown and the door. Children hid under the tables during the exchange.

Vernon said that he remembered the knife-fight training that he learned in the army 50 years ago. This was the first time he's ever had to use it. He said:

%shareLinks-quote="I knew he was right-handed. He was whittling on his left arm making small cuts. He was trying to scare me, and he did." type="quote" author="James Vernon" authordesc="" isquoteoftheday=%

However, Vernon said that if Brown attacked, he knew which hand the attack would come from. This enabled him to prepare. He said:

%shareLinks-quote="First rule of combat: Be fast and vigorous. I grabbed him and threw... Somehow he wound up on a table. I hit him on the (right) collarbone with my closed hand." type="quote" author="James Vernon" authordesc="" isquoteoftheday="false"%

Brown finally dropped the knife. Vernon, who was bleeding intensely, held Brown down until a library employee arrived to remove the knives and help keep Brown down until police officers and paramedics arrived.

Vernon is currently recovering from surgery for his wounds.

Watch this video to learn about another veteran who risked his life to save others:

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