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LORDSBURG, N.M. — A routine surveillance shift turned into a medical emergency for U.S. Army Reserve Sgts. Jack Dylan Fuller and Peter Gillis, both originally from Milan, Ohio, when they were unexpectedly called to assist a distressed civilian near Lordsburg, New Mexico, on March 1, 2025.
Fuller and Gillis, assigned to 192nd Quartermaster Company, Task Force Central, were monitoring the southern border at a Mobile Surveillance Capabilities site, positioned just off the highway near Lordsburg. They had spent hours monitoring the southern border using advanced infrared cameras and radar. As their shift neared its end, a civilian suddenly approached their vehicle, concerned for a nearby woman who appeared to be suffering from a stroke.
Fuller, who is an EMT firefighter in his civilian career, rushed to render aid. Gillis remained at the site, contacting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to request additional support and resources.
With the scene nearby, Fuller arrived within moments. He quickly assessed the woman and found that she was feeling disoriented, dehydrated and had lost her ability to hear properly. The woman had been out for a ride on her dirt bike in protective gear.
"When I got there, she was lying on the ground, complaining of extreme headaches and excessive thirst, so I assisted her as best as I could and got her some water," Fuller said. "It didn’t appear to be a stroke, as she retained full mobility on both sides of her body. Instead, I recognized symptoms consistent with heat-related illness—severe headaches, dehydration and disorientation—so I treated it as a possible heat stroke."
Fuller provided hydration and supportive care, ensuring that she remained conscious. Within 10 minutes, a CBP agent arrived, placed the woman in the back of their vehicle and transported her to the nearest hospital. With aid rendered and the injured civilian on her way to receive further care, Fuller returned to the site to finish his shift with Gillis.
The incident sparked conversation and concern when they returned to their unit for debriefing. None of the other soldiers in their unit had encountered such a scenario before, prompting their command team to facilitate additional training on heat-related illnesses and injuries.
"I feel like additional training for heat-related injuries would do us good," Fuller said. "Especially with the location of our current mission here on the southern border; those are the injuries we’re most likely to see—from both soldiers and civilians.”
Fuller later learned that the woman made a full recovery. The experience reinforced the importance of readiness in unpredictable situations and highlighted how military personnel—whether in combat zones or support roles—must always be prepared to respond to emergencies.
For Fuller and Gillis, the event served as a reminder that even in surveillance operations their duty to serve extends beyond observation. In moments of crisis, quick thinking and readiness to act can mean the difference between life and death.
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2025 16:20 |
| Story ID: | 492678 |
| Location: | LORDSBURG, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Hometown: | MILAN, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 153 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Military Personnel Intervene in Medical Emergency near Southern Border, by PFC Dominic Atlas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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