Newly sworn-in U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Amarillo) is being credited as one of four Texas congressmen who stayed behind to defend the U.S. House Chamber on Wednesday while protesters were attempting to break into the area.

In a Facebook post, U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon reported that Jackson was one of just a few legislators to stay behind in the Chamber to assist Capitol Police while other members of the House evacuated. Fallon said himself, Jackson, and Texas Reps. Troy Nehls and Tony Gonzales stayed behind to assist during the chaos that ensued in Washington on Wednesday. Additionally Colorado Rep. Ken Buck and Oklahoma Rep. Markwayne Mullin also stayed behind with the Texans.

Fallon said in his post that while rioters were trying to access the chamber through the door, the members who stayed behind “broke off furniture to make clubs to defend” the House. Fallon said, in the midst of the chaos, Jackson looked at him and exclaimed, “I’m not going anywhere,” to which Nehls and Gonzales gave reassuring nods. Additionally, Fallon says Jackson and the remaining members assisted authorities in barricading the door before it was declared that shots had been fired.

After leaving the chamber and reaching a secured location, Fallon posted that Jackson and the other Texans who defended the House are heroes.

“I serve with heroes,” Fallon wrote. “My Texas GOP colleagues have been my friends and now they are my heroes!!!”

Jackson is no stranger to defending others, following his over 20 years of service in the United States Navy. After his retirement from the Navy in 2019, Jackson returned to the Texas Panhandle, winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas’ 13th Congressional District.