Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Austin Pearce | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Grant Serna, Detachment 1, Recruit Sustainment Program,...... read more read more
It’s a Monday morning in June and two South Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers are at the track at Sioux Park in Rapid City for an Army Physical Fitness Test. Two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups, and a two-mile run – something Sgt. David Rodarte has done at least twice a year since joining the National Guard more than 13 years ago.
Sgt. 1st Class Grant Serna, who trains SDARNG recruits, oversees APFTs at least once a month. He volunteered to administer Rodarte’s test that morning. This was an old hat for both of them.
Rodarte, 49, had just completed the two-mile run, the final event of three, passing another APFT. He wasn’t feeling right and decided to take a cool-down lap.
“He went to jog out a lap and on turn number four, he collapsed on the track,” said Serna. “I ran over to him - he was unresponsive and wasn’t breathing. I started chest compressions and began CPR.”
Rodarte, who doesn’t use tobacco, maintains a healthy diet, exercises regularly to include swimming and Jiu Jitsu, suffered a massive heart attack.
Two men working out at the track rushed over to help. The three would continue CPR until two senior officers, Jerred Younie and Mark Weyer, with the Rapid City Police Department arrived.
Younie and Weyer used their defibrillator device, which Serna said without a doubt helped save Rodarte’s life.
Once emergency medical technicians arrived, they started Rodarte on the LUCAS CPR machine, which delivers automated chest compressions, and loaded him into the ambulance. While en route to the hospital, Rodarte’s vitals returned.
Rodarte’s cardiac arrest gave doctors a chance to identify a more serious underlying cardiovascular problem.
“I had a quintuple bypass surgery,” said Rodarte. “Doctors found five arteries that were between 60 to 90 percent blocked. I also had an aortic valve replacement - that in and of itself is a traumatic experience for the body.”
Despite the complications, Rodarte returned to fulfill his National Guard obligations and complete his two-week annual training in July.
“For me, my decision was to put on the uniform and continue doing what I do,” said Rodarte, who trains and mentors SDARNG recruits. “It’s been part of the healing process for me; putting on the uniform has helped provide me a sense of purpose again.”
Since returning to work, Rodarte has had time to reflect on the events in June and develop a greater appreciation for those involved in saving his life.
“Now that time has passed, I realize that what they did was more than just save my life,” said Rodarte, a husband and father of two. “They affected my family’s lives because they brought back somebody that my wife and children need, and they also thank them.”
On July 27, Rodarte and his family had the chance to meet and thank several of those involved in saving his life.
“It’s nice to see the result because quite frankly with cardiac events, the chance of actually making a meaningful difference is pretty slim,” said Younie. “The fact that we made a difference and that we got to meet with him and his family after is probably one of the most rewarding things that we can do.”
Speaking specifically of Serna’s actions, Rodarte said, “I’m just the guy who keeled over and had a heart attack. He’s the guy whose training from the Guard saved my life. Most people would’ve given up within a couple of minutes of chest compressions and said, ‘Man, this guy is dead,’ but he kept going.”
The SDARNG awarded Serna with the Army Commendation Medal, Sept. 13, for taking action to save the life of a fellow Soldier.
Serna said he will do his best in any life-threatening situation because he has the training to help and feels it’s the right thing to do.
“If you look at our Founding Fathers and the documents that were a part of creating our nation, there’s an overlying umbrella that if you have the ability to help, you have therefore the responsibility to help,” said Serna. “That’s my idea of Americanism.”
The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States other than general officers who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army after December 6, 1941, distinguished themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2017 13:03 |
| Story ID: | 249109 |
| Location: | RAPID CITY, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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