Snake River Regiment Soldiers answer the call to help

Photo By Staff Sgt. Patrick Caldwell | Sgt. Robert Hunt, a resident of John Day, Ore., (right) laughs with Sgt. James Hawley, a resident of Boise, Idaho, (left) at the Ontario, Oregon armory while chatting about their efforts to rescue two people severely injured in a car accident in May. Hunt and Hawley, both combat veterans assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, were returning home from training in Montana when the traffic accident occurred and they felt compelled to help.  

ONTARIO, OR, UNITED STATES

12.05.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Patrick Caldwell 

116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team

ONTARIO, Ore. – Even though it was six months ago, Sgt. Robert Hunt still vividly recalls the car crash on a stretch of Interstate 84 near American Falls, Idaho.

A member of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Hunt and another member of his unit encountered the deadly accident on the way back from a training stint in Montana.

Hunt, a resident of John Day, Oregon and fellow Soldier, Sgt. James Hawley, a resident of Boise Idaho, saw the accident unfold. Both Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers said they didn’t think twice and immediately stopped and rushed to the scene to help. Hawley was asleep in the vehicle and said he awoke just in time to see the crash.

“When I saw it, it [the vehicle] was still tumbling,” Hawley said.

The vehicle was upside down by the time the Snake River Regiment Soldiers reached the scene and two people – a man and a woman – were trapped inside.

“The woman was out of her seat lying on the floor. We checked her pulse,” Hawley said.

Hunt said the two Guardsmen were joined by several other people at the accident scene, all of them intent on helping the two injured occupants. While several other people checked on the male driver, Hawley and Hunt worked to get the woman out of the vehicle. The only problem was the passenger side door was stuck.

“So we tried to figure out how to get the door open,” Hunt said.

The solution was both simple and effective. Hunt placed his back and shoulder against the car and then lifted. His effort only budged the vehicle but it was enough for the other rescuers to get the door open.

“The woman looked like she had a broken arm,” Hunt said.

Once the woman was out of the vehicle, Hunt and Hawley put their combat lifesaver skills to use. As Hunt and several other people helped the woman, Hawley jumped to the other side of the car to assist with the injured driver. An off-duty nurse was helping and Hawley stepped up to hold the man’s head. Hawley said it was obvious the driver was in serious distress.

“I held his head straight. Tried to keep his airway open. He was bleeding from his mouth and nose. The nurse was trying to check his vital [signs],” Hawley said.

Within a few minutes Hawley said an Idaho State Police officer arrived and then an ambulance. When the medical personnel took over Hawley and Hunt stepped back from the scene and then returned to their vehicle.

Six months later, Hawley was more focused on the tragic aspects of the incident. While the woman lived, the man behind the wheel died of his injuries.

“It was sad, a sad ordeal,” Hawley said. “We did look it up afterwards and found out the guy didn’t make it.”

The event was a tragic end to a one-week training stint helping a Montana Army National Guard unit conduct gunnery exercises, but both Hunt and Hawley said there was never any doubt about helping out the car crash victims.

“No hesitation. If you are able to, why not?” Hawley asked.

Hunt said neither he nor Hawley thought much about their actions that day after they returned to the interstate and drove toward home.

“It was the right thing to do and I have some training,” Hunt said.

Both Soldiers downplayed their role. They point out that there were other people there helping out as well. And they both viewed their actions that day as simply part of the ethos of serving in the 3rd Battalion.

“Being in the 3rd Battalion, you have that mentality to just go,” Hunt said.

“It was just business as usual,” Hawley agreed.
He also said training is a huge factor.

“It [training] gets rid of the hesitation. You don’t hesitate to help. I don’t think it matters what the situation is,” Hawley, who is the supply sergeant for Charlie Company, said.

Hunt, who is the grocery manager at Chester’s Market in John Day, said their response had nothing to do with recognition.

“We didn’t brag about it. We are not here for glory and fame. We do what we are supposed to do,” Hunt said.

The commander of Charlie Company, Capt. Christopher Miller, a La Grande, Oregon, resident, said the response of Hunt and Hawley to help at the crash was no surprise and was right in line with the ethos of the 3rd Battalion, the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team and the Oregon Army National Guard.

“There is that sense of espirit,” Miller said.

• Date Taken: 12.05.2015
• Date Posted: 12.22.2015 15:13
• Story ID: 185175
• Location: ONTARIO, OR, US
• Hometown: BOISE, ID, US
• Hometown: JOHN DAY, OR, US