Posted on 01/28/2006 12:10:22 PM PST by SandRat
BAQUBAH, Iraq (Army News Service, Jan. 27, 2006) – The first aid skills of a U.S. Soldier were put to the test during a mortar attack on a U.S. base Jan. 6.
A Pakistani national, who works at the Forward Operating Base Warhorse Post Exchange, suffered a deep injury to his right arm from shrapnel during the attack and was bleeding profusely.
“I rushed to his aid, followed by some Soldiers behind me,” said Sgt. Maj. Guadalupe Aldama, operations sergeant major for 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “We tried to stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure with my hand, but it would not stop the bleeding. At that time, we applied a tourniquet and called for a humvee to take him to the hospital.”
Responding to the call for help was an automatic reaction for Aldama. He attributed his quick reaction to the first aid training he received during the past 24 years in the Army and, most recently, the First Responder Course that he attended at Fort Carson, Colo., before this deployment.
The First Responder Course is designed to teach every Soldier, regardless of rank, the fundamentals of first aid and quick responses to common injuries they might encounter on the battlefield.
Capt. John Hughes, surgeon, 3rd HBCT, who helped treat the patient at the hospital, praised Aldama for his quick reaction.
“The aid Sgt. Maj. Aldama performed is exactly what we want done for that type of injury,” said Hughes. “He did the right thing. The patient could have potentially died if Aldama had not preformed first aid as quickly as he did.”
The injured Pakistani national is recovering and due to return to work soon, Hughes said.
Aldama is quite humble about his first combat experience of this deployment.
“A Soldier will help anyone in need,” said Aldama. “Any of our Soldiers could have done the same thing I did. I just happened to be first on the scene.”
(Editor’s note; Pvt. Paul Harris serves with 3rd HBCT, 4th Inf. Div. PAO.)
4th ID Ping
Quick thinking.
“A Soldier will help anyone in need,” said Aldama. “Any of our Soldiers could have done the same thing I did. I just happened to be first on the scene.”
(Editor’s note; Pvt. Paul Harris serves with 3rd HBCT, 4th Inf. Div. PAO.)
Thanks for this info. Our nephew is at FOB Warhorse.
When family is afar in a war-zone, any good news from there seems of comfort.
Oops. I see he is already a SGT Major. Can't go any higher in the enlisted ranks....
I read Pvt Paul Harris in the credits and jumped to the wrong conclusion....
I wouldn't think so, because it is SGM Aldama now.
BTTT
Love your good news posts. :)
Thanks. May the road always rise up to meet you.
;)
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