JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, TX - Four Advanced Individual Training Soldiers training at the U. S. Army Medical Center of Excellence to become 68W Combat Medics helped a fallen man at the Fort Sam Houston Post Exchange. Pfc Blair Sutcliffe, Pfc Jalun Taylor, Pfc Jaden King, and Pfc Ryan Jones, all four assigned to Charlie Company, 232nd Medical Battalion, stepped in to help an U.S. Army retiree who had lost his balance and fallen Sunday August 29, 2021 at the PowerZone section of the Exchange. The four Soldiers came to the man’s aid and stayed with him until emergency responders arrived.
Lt. Col. Dennis Segui, Commander 187th Medical Battalion, was at the PX when the man fell. Segui, a former 68W Combat Medic himself, helped the fallen man and was aided by the four Soldiers. Segui wanted to recognize them for their selfless act. He presented the Soldiers with Commander’s Coins at a ceremony in front of Charlie Company, 232nd MED BN. The 187th MED BN is one of four battalions under the 32nd Medical Brigade.
“In a deployed environment, you are the confidence that is within the warfighter, because knowing that you are amongst them, gives them the courage to do what they do best, which is to place themselves in harm’s way in support of the mission. These four medics answered the call, in garrison, and demonstrated the moral courage to be there when no one else responded.”
“At first I was trying to figure out what was happening when I heard a scream and then honestly instinct took over,” said Pfc. Jalun Taylor. “We went over to the man and tried to help him, even considering weren’t not yet finished training. My battle buddies and I tried to do something instead of letting just him sit there.”
Describing what happened Pfc Ryan Jones said “We saw him fall and wasn’t getting up, obviously hurt, and we all just reacted. Two of us went to his help to make sure he was OK and staying awake while Private King and I went to get help.”
Staff Sgt. Samantha Frank, the Soldier’s Drill Sergeant, said she’s proud of her troops. “They had no idea what the situation was. Most people would be scared. These Soldiers haven’t completed their training, they are probably uncertain of their skills, but they weren’t scared,” said Frank. “They acted when they were needed and that made me very proud.”
The fallen retiree was helped by emergency responders is reportedly doing well, thanks in part to the quick action of the four future combat medics.
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