By Spc. Allison Churchill
41st Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – A noncommissioned officer from 589th Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Fires Brigade, received the 10th Mountain Division Hero Safety Award, Aug. 28, 2008, at the brigade headquarters.
Maj. Gen. Michael Oates, Multi-National Division – Center commander, presented Staff Sgt. Philip Daniels, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, service and recovery shop, Company B, 589th BSB, the award for quick thinking that may have saved several lives.
Daniels said he found an uncapped, live power line while Co. B Soldiers were setting up the brigade motor pool in July. He used a multi-meter to determine if it was live. Finding that it was, he then looked for circuits to turn it off.
He quickly covered the line to keep anyone from going near it, which could have given a Soldier a powerful shock.
"It demonstrates the vigilance of the Soldier," said Co. B commander Capt. Angel Ortiz, a native of Carolina, Puerto Rico.
"Even when going in to a controlled environment, there are still hazards to look out for," said Ortiz.
Kenneth Dickerson, 41st Fires Brigade's safety officer, praised Co. B for having a positive safety command structure.
"If you do things right the first time, it leads to safety," said Dickerson, of Killeen, Texas.
Daniel's attention to safety is especially significant in his shop, as Soldiers work with flame torches and other dangerous equipment.
Ortiz said the rest of the shop displays the same conscientiousness.
"You could easily injure yourself. You have to have respect for the equipment," said Ortiz.
In addition to the award certificate and a coin from Oates, Daniels earned a trip to Freedom Rest in the International Zone in Baghdad, Iraq.