(L-R) Staff Sgt. Jacob Roberts, Sgt. 1st Class Alicia Haggins, Sgt. Justin Fagan and 2nd Lt. Indiana Rhodes, stand together Aug. 15, a day after they came to the aid of a Polish civilian suffering a heart-related emergency in Poland. The Soldiers, all members of the Alabama National Guard’s 214th Military Police Company, are one month into a rotational deployment to Poland in support of U.S. Army V Corps. Courtesy photo)
By: Capt. Misael Saldivar
๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฎ๐ป, ๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ โ Four Soldiers of the Alabama National Guardโs 214th Military Police Co. deployed to Poland provided emergency assistance to a civilian suffering from a medical emergency at a rest area outside of Skwierzyna, Poland, Aug. 14.
The 214th Military Police Company, headquartered in Alexander City, Ala., deployed in June to take part in ongoing NATO partner support operations in Romania, Bulgaria and Poland.
The incident happened while the Soldiers were traveling to the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Center and stopped for lunch in Skwierzyna, a town about 80 miles west of U.S. Army Garrison Poland headquarters in Poznan.
2nd Lt. Indiana Rhodes from Lanett, Sgt. 1st Class Alicia Haggins from Notasulga, Staff Sgt. Jacob Roberts from Falkville, and Sgt. Justin Fagan from Driver Trinity, were eating at a rest area restaurant when they witnessed the civilian man collapse outside the restaurant.
The four soldiers immediately took action to control the scene, assess the manโs condition, and keep him alive until Polish emergency medical services arrived.
Haggins used a translation app to communicate with the manโs wife, gathering a brief medical history to aid treatment. This confirmed the man had a history of heart problems, and she said the team instinctively engaged skills they had gleaned from frequent emergency medical training in the unit.
Fagan checked the manโs vitals and started CPR. โHis pulse was really faint,โ Fagan said. โHe didnโt respond to a sternum rub so I started chest compressions.โ Fagan, Rhodes, and Roberts continued compressions until EMS arrived. First responders asked Fagan and Roberts to rotate with them to keep CPR going while they awaited a medevac helicopter.
โThe biggest concern is making sure he stays alive,โ said Fagan. โI never thought about recognition. The most important thing is doing the humane thing to another human.โ
The soldiers and paramedics stabilized the manโs vital signs before transferring him to the helicopter and evacuating him to a nearby hospital. The manโs wife and another relative hugged the soldiers and thanked them for their efforts.
The next day, the team simply expressed concern for the civilianโs continued recovery. โI just hope it all turns out good for him and his family,โ Haggins said. โI am glad that we were there and had the training and expertise to react.โ
Rhodes agreed, saying, โI hope heโs doing OK. It would be cool to know that heโs doing OK and able to be with his family.โ
The quick response and teamwork of these soldiers exemplify the values of the U.S. Army, the high standard of professionalism of the Alabama National Guard, and the strong partnership between U.S. forces and the Polish community.
โBecause they were there and at that time, the man and his family have hope,โ Army spokesman Lt. Col. Cain Claxton said Friday. โIt is an example for all of us to emulate in helping people out, especially here being representatives for our country in Poland.โ
The four soldiers will be recognized in a ceremony for their heroic noncombat actions, with the date and location still to be determined, Claxton said.
Members of the 214th during a 2016 training exercise in Romania. The 214th is headquartered in Alexander City. (DOD)
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