Courtesy Photo | Mountain Green Resident Staff Sgt. Matthew Cieslak, a medic with 197th Special Troops...... read more read more
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DRAPER, Utah – Two Utah Army National Guard soldiers from the 197th Special Troops Company (Airborne) were awarded the Utah Cross during a ceremony held at Camp Williams, Dec. 4.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Cieslak of Mountain Green and Sgt. Joseph Lee of South Jordan were cited for their exemplary actions in rendering aid to an injured moped driver during a training exercise in Kampong Speu, Cambodia.
“The Utah Cross is the second highest award presented by the Utah National Guard,” said Lt. Col. Brent Baxter, executive officer, 97th Troop Command, UTNG. “The Utah Cross is presented to any member of the Utah National Guard who distinguishes himself or herself through a voluntary course of action. Such actions include the exception of existing danger or extraordinary responsibilities with praiseworthy fortitude and exemplary courage that are clearly above and beyond the call of duty.”
Col. Milada Copeland, commander of the 97th, said this award “goes to show that these two soldiers when they were in the situation where they were in a foreign country, didn’t speak the language, they could have really driven off. They actually took the time and assisted the individual and then went to great lengths to make sure the person got proper medical care and his life was saved.”
In the early morning hours of June 17, Lee witnessed a moped, carrying baskets full of eggs, collide with a pedestrian on the busy highway outside of the Training School for Multi-National Peacekeeping Forces.
Recognizing the severity of the accident, Lee quickly summoned Cieslak, the company medic, to assist him in treating the injured driver. While waiting for Cieslak to arrive, Lee began to perform first aid on both the driver of the moped and the pedestrian.
“I just started cutting up clothing to put bandages on [the driver] to stop the blood, waiting for the medic to arrive. I then ran to the other guy and cut the remainder of the shirt and put it on him,” said Lee.
Cieslak explained that the injuries to the driver were severe and consisted of numerous facial fractures, which could have resulted in his airway being completely blocked by swelling.
Upon stabilizing the driver, Cieslak and Lee arranged with their interpreter to transport the driver to the nearest medical clinic. Once at the clinic, the medical staff began trying to treat the injured diver incorrectly for his type of injury. Cieslak immediately recognized the potential danger of their treatment and told the medical staff.
Determined to save the driver’s life, Cieslak and Lee opted to take the driver to the public hospital located 45 minutes away in Phnom Phen, which had the capability to take X-rays and CT scans.
Once at the hospital, Cieslak attempted to relay the driver’s vital signs and condition to one of the doctors. However, the doctor paid little attention to Cieslak and continued working.
“The interpreter explained that the doctor would need to be bribed so we emptied both of our wallets, which ended up being around 40 bucks,” Lee said.
Eventually, another doctor who spoke English approached Cieslak about the driver. Cieslak was able to inform the doctor about the condition of the driver and then ensured that the doctor understood that an X-ray and CT scan were necessary.
After the driver had recovered from the accident, he and his parents met with Cieslak and Lee to thank them for saving his life.
Sergeant 1st Class Gordon Shute, engineer platoon sergeant, 197th STC, UTNG, said the driver’s mother “couldn’t say thank you enough…she was so, so grateful. It about broke my heart…I had trouble chocking back tears.”
Prior to leaving Cambodia, the soldiers of 97th TC collected donations, which were enough to cover the driver’s hospital bills. A dentist in the area also agreed to fix the driver’s teeth pro bono.
“They are exceptional soldiers,” said Copeland. “There are a lot of exceptional soldiers in the Utah Guard. This is a prestige award that we don’t give out a lot.”
Cieslak and Lee humbly accepted their Utah Crosses from Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, adjutant general, UTNG, in front of their fellow soldiers, friends and family.
“It’s an honor and the real honor was that he got taken care of,” said Cieslak. “It really should be an award for 197th STC for all the work they did out there.”
| Date Taken: | 12.04.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2010 16:54 |
| Story ID: | 62431 |
| Location: | CAMP WILLIAMS, UTAH, US |
| Web Views: | 864 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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