Photo By Sgt. John Simpson | U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Zachary Robbin, right, an infantry platoon sergeant, and...... read more read more
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CHATAN, OKINAWA, JAPAN – Two U.S. military reservists relied on their civilian first-responder training to provide lifesaving medical care to an elderly man experiencing a medical emergency at a local restaurant on May 8, 2026.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Zachary Robbin, an infantry platoon sergeant, and Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Thomas Musumeci, a leading petty officer, were attending a dinner at the Chatan Harbor Brewery and Restaurant alongside counterparts from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) when the incident occurred.
Both service members are Massachusetts reservists forward deployed with the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, to the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. In their civilian careers, Musumeci serves as a police officer and Robbin serves as a firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) for the Watertown Fire Department.
"We both looked over and saw an elderly Japanese man who appeared to be choking and had his family crowding around him," Robbin recalled. "We both immediately stood up and rushed over to the man to assess his condition."
As they approached, Musumeci saw a woman performing back slaps on the man, who was slightly hunched over the table.
"My EMT training kicked in and HM1 and I began responding,” said Robbin.
Upon hearing audible wheezing, Musumeci began to perform the Heimlich maneuver while Robbin tried to assess the man’s level of consciousness. Within moments, the man went unresponsive.
"I performed the Heimlich maneuver until the man went unresponsive, then moved him into a supine position on the deck to assess his carotid pulse, which was absent," Musumeci said. From there He initiated chest compressions while Robbin instructed restaurant staff to get the automated external defibrillator and attached it to the man. During this process JGSDF Sgt. Maj. Tasaki called 911 to get paramedics on the scene.
When the AED arrived, the audio prompts were entirely in Japanese. Their JGSDF classmates immediately stepped in to help.
"Our JGSDF classmates that also had come over to assist began talking to the family of the man, keeping them calm, and also translating what the Japanese emergency response dispatcher was repeating to them over the phone," Robbin said. "They also were able to translate the automated instructions given by the AED."
Musumeci and Robbin completed approximately 10 rounds of chest compressions before paramedics arrived 10 to 15 minutes later. JGSDF Master Sgt. Yagi contributed a round of compressions to allow them to assess the scene further, while Musumeci compiled a medical turnover report for JGSDF Sgt. 1st Class Ishikawa to pass on to the arriving paramedics.
Even after EMS arrived, the reservists continued to help. Robbin's civilian firefighter expertise proved valuable as he unpacked and assisted the paramedics with attaching their Lucas automatic CPR machine.
"Staff Sgt. Robbin’s knowledge of the Lucas machine was instrumental in assembling the device to perform chest compressions for the paramedics while they were establishing a patent airway and IV access," Musumeci noted. "He was calm, cool, and collected throughout the entire evolution."
Reflecting on the surreal experience of performing lifesaving interventions, both men credited their training for their readiness.
"I am a police officer in my civilian career, so it was natural to respond to a non-military member in a medical crisis," Musumeci said. "However, performing CPR in a suit was a first for me. I hope our actions shine a good light on Americans stationed in Japan and forge stronger bonds in the future."
For Robbin, the event serves as a lasting leadership lesson for the junior troops under his command.
"For those junior Marines and NCOs that don’t experience situations like this all the time in their civilian jobs or their Marine Corps careers, I would want the biggest takeaway from this situation to be the notion of stepping up and helping someone in need in whatever way you are able to," said Robbin.
Robbin and Musumeci were both awarded Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals on May 13th in a ceremony held on Camp Hansen, officially recognizing them for their heroic actions that night.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.10.2026 02:49 |
| Story ID: | 567049 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 76 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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