Soldiers lend aid to injured South Korean

Photo By Staff Sgt. Steven Schneider | Pfc. Jason Mead, an indirect fire infantryman in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, receives an Army Achievement Medal at Camp Casey, South Korea, Nov. 25. Mead earned the medal when he helped aid a South Korean citizen who was injured when the motorcycle he was riding was struck Nov. 15.  

CAMP CASEY, SOUTH KOREA

11.25.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Steven Schneider 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

CAMP CASEY, South Korea – Manchu Soldiers Sgt. Cody Whygles and Pfc. Jason Mead didn’t realize they would have the chance to be heroes. It seemed like a regular day Nov. 15. They were in the Jihaeng portion of Dongducheon, South Korea, taking their dogs to the veterinarian when they heard a bang.

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Team, 2nd Infantry Division Soldiers looked over and noticed a motorcyclist had been struck by a vehicle.

“I was mostly shocked,” Whygles said. “I didn’t really understand the whole situation at the time, but I knew my first response was to go over there and help the guy.”

Without delay, the Soldiers hurried to the scene, and they started evaluating the casualty.

“We took off running, and noticed he was face down,” Mead said. “We proceeded to roll him over and pat his body down to check for blood. There was no blood.”

They moved on to check the Korean citizen for pain.

“We did small pinches over his body to see what he said hurt and what didn’t hurt, and it turned out to be his left forearm that was broken and his left femur bone,” Mead said.

They noticed the citizen was having trouble breathing, so they helped him remove his helmet. They finally ensured an ambulance was called and waited to make sure the victim was okay.

Afterward, the Soldiers were happy to have been able to lend a helping hand and saw it as something anyone should do when presented with a similar situation.

“If stuff like that happens, you should always step up and help,” said Mead. “There should be no hesitation. You should always do what you’re supposed to do.”

Whygles and Mead were awarded the Army Achievement Medal for their actions during a ceremony at Camp Casey, South Korea, Nov. 25.

“It was a very good and quick reaction,” said Lt. Col. Scott P. Knight, 2-9th Infantry commander.

• Date Taken: 11.25.2014
• Date Posted: 11.26.2014 01:34
• Story ID: 148867
• Location: CAMP CASEY, KR