By John Heil
332nd Medical Brigade
NASHVILLE, Tenn. —On Nov. 16, Pfc. Dustin Hayes, 332nd Medical Brigade Soldier, was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for saving the life of 6-year old Jayden Stine.
Hayes, a convenience store clerk at the Comet Mart, in Bucksnort, Tenn., spent a normal Oct. 10 working when he noticed a commotion near the gas pumps and proceeded to help.
"My children and I went to the Comet Mart where Dustin works," said Carol Stine, Jayden's mom, "I went in the store to prepay for gas and I came out and started pumping gas while my children were goofing off."
"They were knocking on the window and waving to me," said Stine. "We kept doing it for a few minutes then all of a sudden they stopped I waited for a minute and went to the driver's side and noticed that Jayden was choking I asked him if he was OK and he didn't answer me."
"I immediately jerked open the back door of my van and pulled him out of his car seat," said Stine, "and started giving him the Heimlich maneuver."
"He was not responding to it and he was reaching for me wanting me to pick him up," said Stine, "and tell him that he was going to be OK." "I told him to hang on I was trying to help him."
Stine said she made several attempts to give Jayden the Heimlich maneuver but he was not responding to it.
"He was reaching out to me," said Stine, "By this time Jayden was turning blue and drooling, and I started to panic."
Stine indicated that she was hollering but that people that she had known for years must have thought they were playing and walked right by ignoring her calls for help.
She continued trying to dislodge whatever was stuck in Jayden's windpipe and get help but was unsuccessful while trying to get someone to help her.
Stine said she ran toward the store and almost made it to the door when she saw Hayes coming towards them.
"I thought I just ran outside," said Hayes, "but the next day one of my customers said to me, I didn't realize you could jump over that counter."
"He [Hayes] immediately seen that Jayden was choking." said Stine, "and that we were panicking, and he started to help us."
Stine said Hayes grabbed Jayden and started the Heimlich maneuver and was getting no response, so she hollered for other people to call 911.
"Dustin continued trying everything for Jayden," said Stine, "and finally got his gum to come out."
"He never gave up until Jayden started crying and was able to breathe again."
"I don't consider myself a hero," said Hayes, "Anyone in the unit would have done the same thing, it just happened to be me."
Hayes was awarded the ARCOM for meritorious service and heroics in saving the life of another.
"He is a true hero," said Col. James Snyder, 332nd MED Bde. commander, "and is an example for others to follow—we are proud of him."
