Courtesy Photo | Capt. Bryan Ash, a 39-year-old anti-terrorism force protection officer for the 1st...... read more read more
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by Maj. Sonise Lumbaca,
1st Sustainment Command (Theater) PAO
FORT BRAGG, N.C.--On Sep.12, Capt. Bryan Ash, the anti-terrorism force protection officer for the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) was driving back to Fayetteville, N.C. from Orlando, Fla. to attend a class he was taking in order to complete his master's degree. Ash had been on vacation with his family at Disney World.
While driving on I-95, somewhere south of Savannah, Ga., a life changing event occurred that would personally affect Ash and a complete stranger.
"I was driving behind a van that seemed to be swerving on the road," Ash said. "I had this feeling that (the van) was going to wreck."
Although Ash wasn't sure why the vehicle was swerving, he had his suspicions and was concerned about it. As a result, he made a 911 call to notify authorities.
About five minutes later and still driving behind the van, the 39-year-old from Huntington, W.V. noticed a foreign object in the road. The van ahead of him was unable to avoid the foreign object and ended up hitting it, causing a couple of the tires on the vehicle to blowout. This blowout caused the driver of the van to lose control of the vehicle.
"The vehicle spun out of control and flipped four or five times and then rolled off the embankment," Ash said.
Observing this, Ash immediately stopped and exited his vehicle and quickly made a second 911 call. When he reached the embankment, he saw that the driver was in a lot of trouble.
"I could see (the driver of the van) hanging upside-down and he wasn't moving," Ash said. "The roof of the van was crushed, the windows were blown out."
As Ash approached the vehicle closer, the van burst into flames. He made his third and final call to 911 to inform them of the acceleration of the danger in the situation and of his intentions of helping the driver.
Since the van caught on fire quickly and the driver appeared trapped and unconscious, Ash had to move fast.
"I crawled on my belly and got as close as possible to the driver to undo his seatbelt," Ash said.
Undoing the seat belt wasn't a simple task, Ash added.
"The smoke (coming from the vehicle) was so thick and black that I couldn't see anything. So, I had trouble undoing (the seatbelt)."
Ash removed himself from the vehicle, noting that there was a truck driver standing more than 10 feet behind him with a fire extinguisher, and asked the truck driver if he had a knife so that he could cut the seatbelt. Unfortunately, the truck driver didn't have one. So, Ash crawled on his stomach once again and made his way to the cab of the vehicle a second time to free the trapped driver. This time he was successful in freeing the driver.
Upon freeing the trapped driver, Ash dragged him about 10 feet away from the van, which was engulfed in flames. Another motorist came and helped Ash transport the injured driver further away, over the embankment. Once on the side of the road, the van exploded.
Emergency response crew arrived and both Ash and the driver of the van were rushed to a trauma center in Savannah, Ga.
Ash was treated for burns on his right arm and smoke inhalation. The driver, who survived, sustained more serious injuries.
Ash later learned that the driver was transporting a heavy load of children's books that were donated and would later be transported to schools in the Philippines. The load, coupled with driver's fatigue and the foreign object in the road caused the accident.
"I rode (in the ambulance) with the gentleman to the hospital. During the ride over, he (became conscious) and asked where he was." Ash said. "The EMS tech explained to him what happened and he thanked me for saving his life and explained that he had a pregnant wife with three children."
Being a family man himself, it was then Ash realized that although his actions in saving the driver was just a normal reaction and "no big deal" to him, in hind site, and still modest, Ash now recognized what a life changing effect it was for him and for this stranger who he had just saved.
"Being allowed to be in a position to help another human being... the real reward in all of this is that the guy is alive and is able to get back home with his family."
Ash's action also left a lasting impression on county commissioners and emergency response personnel.
"Capt. Ash showed tremendous courage and unselfishness," said Bob Sprinkel, the assistant county administrator for Liberty County in South Carolina. "(Ash) recognized that he was going into a dangerous situation that he might not return from."
Even today, Ash remains humble about actions.
"When I spoke with (Ash), he was very modest about the whole situation," Sprinkel said.
For his heroism, Ash is being recommended for an Army award.
"We are asking to give him the Soldier's Medal," said Lt. Col. Tharrel B. Kast, the Force Protection Officer for the 1st TSC and Ash's supervisor. Ash did risk his life to save another, he added."(This award) process is one that has to go all the way up to the Department of the Army."
In the meantime, Ash has already received accolades from members of the Liberty County community.
"I have spoken first hand to EMS, 911 dispatchers, fire fighters and police officers about the recent incident involving Capt. Ash. Everyone has the same opinion that if Capt. Ash had not reacted the way he did, the person in the burning van would not have survived," he said.
Additionally, Ash received letters of commendation for his heroic act from the Liberty Regional EMS Inc., Liberty County Fire Services Office, the Eastern District Fire/ Rescue, and the Liberty County Public Safety Communications.
"Capt. Ash's actions certainly demonstrate what a true hero is," Sprinkel added.
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.28.2006 11:28 |
| Story ID: | 7853 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 432 |
| Downloads: | 168 |
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