SUWON, Republic of Korea -- Three U.S Navy Corpsmen were awarded the Army Achievement Medal August 7 at Camp Casey Army Garrison, Republic of Korea during the Korean Marine Exchange Program 12-7.
The corpsmen, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Geoffrey Ward, Hospitalman Mario Gallon and Hospitalman Zachory Myers, who are attached to 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, rendered medical assistance to U.S. Army soldiers who were involved in a Humvee rollover.
“The Humvee went off the road and tumbled over the side.” said Senior Chief Reese D. Ritter, medical senior enlisted advisor with the regiment. “When the soldiers made their way back up the road, the corpsmen saw them and provided medical assistance.”
The soldiers were at Nightmare Range, ROK in support of the ROK and U.S. Marines’ bilateral live-fire training event when they rolled their vehicle.
The training the corpsmen had received early during KMEP 12-7 turned out to be critical especially when the situation turned into real life.
“I am very glad the two soldiers are doing ok.” said Ward. “We saw the soldier on the road, he looked pretty shaken up and we could tell he needed help. We gave him medical care and evacuated him. We were just doing our jobs.”
The medals were presented by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeremy P. McGuire, the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, which were the first AAMs he has presented since assuming command of the battalion.
“This is the first time I’ve presented the Army Achievement medal since taking command of the Battalion and I’m presenting it to sailors from the Navy,” said McGuire. “That’s something that you don’t see very often.”
KMEP 12-7 is scheduled to end Aug. 14 and has included participation from the 8th Artillery Battalion, 2nd ROK Marine Division.