Marine saves community member’s life

Courtesy Photo | Lance Cpl. Angel Servin poses outside of his workspace Nov. 22 at Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. Servin recently performed lifesaving CPR on a local Okinawa man. Before this event, and most certainly after, Servin has proven himself a valuable asset to the Marine Corps and to his command and has been nominated for an award for his actions, according to Capt. Frank S. Buerger, the operations officer with JWTC. Servin is a field radio operator with the JWTC.  

JUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

11.21.2013

Story by Lance Cpl. Peter Sanders 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

JUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Okinawa — Marines train to prepare for any event, including caring for the injured or wounded. Not only did one Marine remember his training when it counted, he also saved a life in the process.

Lance Cpl. Angel Servin, a field radio operator with the Jungle Warfare Training Center, recently used his medical training to save a local community member’s life.

While driving from Camp Hansen to JWTC, Servin witnessed a man collapse on the shoulder of the road.

Springing into action, Servin pulled over to help any way he could, according to Gunnery Sgt. Alvin L. Johnson, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of JWTC, Camp Gonsalves, Marine Corps Installations Pacific.

The actions were purely instinctual and a result of training, according to Servin.

Once Servin determined CPR was the necessary course of action, he applied it until emergency responders arrived, according to Capt. Frank S. Buerger, the operations officer with JWTC.

“It was all happening so fast,” said Servin. “I didn’t know if he was going to make it or not, but once I noticed he was getting better, I felt relieved.”

CPR is an important life-saving tool, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 lives could be saved each year by immediate use of CPR. This makes it vital to learn and maintain basic CPR knowledge and skills, and to use it when the situation requires.

“(Servin) started CPR as soon as he realized that’s what (the victim) needed,” said Buerger. “When he saw another bystander, he asked him to call for help. Servin continued to use CPR until emergency help showed up 10 minutes after he first noticed (the victim) go down.”

Helping a complete stranger showed unselfishness and a desire to help those in need, according to Buerger.

“When we do things like this, it not only demonstrates the depth of our character as U.S. service members and subsequently, ambassadors; it shows the depth of human character,” said Buerger.

Instances such as Servin’s also help enhance friendships between Okinawa and the U.S., according to Johnson.

“This story has multiple positive implications,” said Johnson. “Not only does it help the local community feel more at ease about our presence, it shows us our training goes beyond the battlefield and into everyday life.”

The experience also highlighted the importance of being aware of your surroundings at all times, according to Servin.

“If I had to (give) a lesson about this, I’d have to say maintain situational awareness,” said Servin. “They teach us this in boot camp, and it couldn’t be more right; you never know what could happen.”

Despite receiving accolades for his meritorious actions, he remains humble.

“I was just doing my job,” said Servin. “As a Marine and a human being, I was trying to be as helpful as I could.”

Before this event, and most certainly after, Servin has proven himself a valuable asset to the Marine Corps and to his command and has been nominated for an award for his actions, according to Buerger.

“We at JWTC are very proud of all our Marines,” said Buerger. “Lance Cpl. Servin has made himself a great addition to our shop as well as the Marine Corps. He remained aware of his surroundings even though he was on his own time. This demonstrates a great level of commitment to everyone around him, the Marine Corps and his country.”

• Date Taken: 11.21.2013
• Date Posted: 11.21.2013 01:15
• Story ID: 117124
• Location: JUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: ARLINGTON, VA, US
• Hometown: BIRMINGHAM, AL, US
• Hometown: MILWAUKEE, WI, US
• Hometown: SAN BERNARDINO, CA, US