Photo By Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch | Spc. Jonah Atkinson, left, an intelligence analyst assigned to Headquarters and...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – When on the battlefield, Soldiers are expected to be able to react to any situation, which range from engaging enemies with their assigned weapon to applying medical care to an injured comrade.
For two Soldiers assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, their Army training kicked in but this time it was right outside JBLM on the morning of Nov. 7, 2015, and it resulted in a shooting victim’s life being saved.
Because of those actions, Spc. Jonah Atkinson and Spc. Labeisha Ingram, received recognition from the Police Department of Lakewood, Washington, in the form of the Police Chief’s Commendation, during a city counsel meeting, Feb. 1.
Atkinson, an intelligence analyst assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, I Corps, was first to notice that someone had been in some sort of an accident, and says he acted as soon as he walked up to the vehicle and saw someone in danger
“I had to unlock (the car) from the inside,” said Atkinson, a native of Parker, Colorado. “You know that right there, that was kind of scary to do that because he was a big dude and I didn’t want him to wake up and think I had attacked him.”
While doing a quick evaluation on the victim, the other Soldier arrived to help provide additional support.
“My Army training kicked in automatically,” said Ingram, a field artillery firefinder radar operator assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, 7th Infantry Division. “I wasn’t going to stand there, so I ran around the other side of the truck to find out why this man was breathing like that, to help and determine what the problem was.”
With the assessment done and unable to identify the cause of the bleeding, the Soldiers cut off the victim’s shirt to find three bullet wounds in his shoulder where they then applied pressure.
“They worked on him until the fire department got there and, soon after, the fire department took him to the hospital where he survived his wounds, but (the hospital) had to revive him,” said Chief of Police Michael Zaro, Lakewood City Police. “(The Soldiers’) actions were incredible. Just the act or the decision to act or to step in when a lot of people might not have. A lot of people would have been scared or not had known what to do. These two jumped in and that is commendable and that should be recognized.”
One thing that sticks out to both Soldiers is how their Army training played such a huge role throughout the entire incident.
“Before the Army, I didn’t know anything or would be able to tell you the first thing to do if I came up on that situation,” said Atkinson. “With the (Combat Life Saver) course, the first thing they tell you to do is check for alertness and assess the situation, just like I did. I then figured out what was going on, saw the bullet holes and applied pressure.”
For Ingram, there was not time to think, just react.
“There was no time wasted,” said Ingram, a native of Queens, New York. “My (body armor with medical pack) were in my car, so I knew I was going to do something to help him. I feel like the Army definitely taught me that.”
With the ability to act selflessly and not remain caught up in the moment, these JBLM Soldiers emulate exactly what the Army stands for.
“What that does is just solidify the opinion that everybody has of the character of the Soldiers that are in this community,” said Zaro. “These two showed what it is really about and they, without hesitation, jumped in to help. It proved what everyone already knows about the character of the Soldiers in the Army.”
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.04.2016 19:17 |
| Story ID: | 187955 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Hometown: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Hometown: | LAKEWOOD, WA, US |
| Hometown: | PARKER, CO, US |
| Hometown: | QUEENS, NY, US |
| Hometown: | TACOMA, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 264 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Saving a life, by SGM Andrew Porch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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