Truckers Awarded Army Achievement Medals

Photo By Sgt. Eunice Alicea Valentin | Sgt. Jason Head of Company B, Premobilization Training Assistance Element, receives the Army Achievement Medal on June 8 during Annual Training 2008 at Camp Grayling, Mich. Head was driving a five-ton truck on June 3 while traveling from his hometown in Stow, Ohio, to Camp Grayling when one of his truck tires blew out near an embankment. Head and his assistant driver, Sgt. James E. Derlich, also of Company B, maintained control of the vehicle, replaced the tire and continued the mission. Dirlich also received the Army Achievement Medal.  

UNITED STATES

06.12.2008

Story by Spc. Eunice Alicea Valentin 

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

By Spc. Eunice Alicea Valentin
Ohio National Guard

CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - The treadmarks of a five-ton truck paved the way to Annual Training 2008 when a convoy from Stow, Ohio, turned into a fight for survival on June 3 for two truckers of Company B, 16th Engineer Brigade, Ohio Army National Guard.

Sgt. James E. Derlich and Sgt. Jason Head, trainers and evaluators with the Premobilization Training Assistance Element, were traveling to Camp Grayling, Mich., for Annual Training 2008 in support of the PTAE, which trains units on warrior tasks and skills needed during deployment.

Camp Grayling was a mere 42 miles ahead when the driver's-side tire of his 5-ton truck erupted, Derlich said. The truck immediately swerved from the right lane to the left, its steering wheel locked tightly. Head struggled to maintain control of the truck as it approached a steep embankment. His assistant driver, Derlich, had experienced accidents of this magnitude in his many years of driving rigs prior to his enlistment. He knew that if the 5-ton flipped or skidded into the embankment, the sensitive equipment on board, including weapons, would be damaged. He also knew that the accident could be fatal for Head and other Soldiers traveling in the nearly 60-vehicle convoy to Michigan.

Derlich reacted quickly, jumping over the console to assist Head in regaining control of the vehicle. Together, Head and Derlich were able to steer back into the right lane and then off to the side of the road. A team of mechanics was then able to change the tire and the truckers continued the mission.

What could have been a catastrophic accident is now being used as a lesson to other Ohio National Guard Soldiers at Camp Grayling. In fact, all subsequent Ohio Army National Guard troops to arrive at the camp were briefed on the event as an example of good safety procedures.

"Stay alert, safety is first," Derlich said.

Head and Derlich received the Army Achievement Medal on June 8 at Camp Grayling for exercising good judgment and avoiding a potentially catastrophic accident.

• Date Taken: 06.12.2008
• Date Posted: 06.12.2008 22:45
• Story ID: 20409
• Location: US