June 14, 2007 Visit the Fort Carson Web Site at Soldiers Thanked for Role in Henniger Rescue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 65, No. 24 Publishedished inin thethe interinterest of Division West, First Army and Fort Carson community June 14, 2007 Visit the Fort Carson Web site at www.carson.army.mill Soldiers thanked for role in Henniger rescue Story and photo by Spc. Rodney Foliente 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Two Soldiers from Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, visited the civilian whose life they helped save in May and were thanked during a press conference at the Denver Medical Health Center June 4. Sgt. Michael Cordosi, gunner, and Sgt. Christopher Smith, section chief, were the first responders and helped stabilize Rai Henniger, senior vice president of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox baseball team, after a pyrotechnic Heather Henniger,left, wife of Rai Henniger, who these Soldiers helped save in May, leads the applause for accident that occurred during Army Sgt. Christopher Smith, center, section chief, and Sgt. Michael Cordosi,center right, gunner, both from Appreciation Night at Colorado Spring’s Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Security Service Field May 12. during a press conference at Denver Medical Health Center June 4. The Soldiers later visited her husband, “Around (3 p.m.) we heard the explo- Rai Henniger, senior vice president of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox baseball team, in his hospital room, sion,” began Cordosi. “We went around their first time meeting him since the accident. the scoreboard to investigate and found Rai lying on his back. We rushed past the onlookers, and continuously trains and retrains. Both Soldiers situation at the time the accident occurred and also evaluated the casualty and did everything we could to are combat lifesaver qualified. labeled the Soldiers and everyone else involved in stabilize him until the paramedics arrived.” “They were able to keep Rai alive, talking and the rescue as heroes. After reaching the wounded man, Cordosi and conscious until paramedics arrived,” said Heather But perhaps because they are Soldiers, Cardosi Smith said they cleared his airway and turned his Henniger, his wife, during a press conference where and Smith said they don’t consider themselves head to prevent him from choking. They then she met Cordesi and Smith for the first time, hugged heroes. They were just doing their job. They said they stabilized his head and used towels and whatever was and thanked the Soldiers as heroes. saw someone hurt and had to take care of him. at hand to stem the bleeding. They also treated him “It’s not just from me,” she added. “I have three “You see a guy on the ground, the first instinct is for shock and kept him conscious. children, and they consider you to be real heroes.” to help him and save him,” said Smith. “You can’t Even after the paramedics arrived, the Soldiers Henniger’s doctors explained that the patient’s explain it; you see it and you just react. That’s all you continued to assist until Henniger was placed inside injuries were life threatening and that he arrived at do. That’s what you’re trained to do. It’s part of our the ambulance. the hospital in critical condition. Henniger suffered duties to help people.” They attributed their actions to their sense of duty multiple fractures to his face and skull, burns and “We were just doing our job,” added Cordosi. and humanity and were grateful for their Army cuts to his face, and his nose was split open. He also They did their duty as American Soldiers and training. They explained that saving lives is a huge lost his left eye. part of soldiering. The Army teaches it to its Soldiers The doctors emphasized the severity of the See Rescue on Page 4 INSIDE THE MOUNTAINEER 101 Days of Safety Community Water safety . .2 Hut, hut, hut . .11 Training safety . .2 Colorado military survivors . .12 Eagle scouts serves Soldiers . .14 News Community Briefs . .15 Training the Iraqi police . .3-4 Myrtle spurge a problem . .16 Remembering fathers . .18 Military Chapel updates . .19 Strikers take trauma training . .5 Going “green” . .20 Military Briefs . .6 TLC for the POV . .22 Trust building with “Iraqis” . .7 Send in the clowns . .26 Honoring fallen Soldiers . .8-9 MWR events . .27 Feature Trout fishing in Womack . .24-25 Photo by Michael J. Pach MUST SEE Sports Who's happy to be home? Carson boxer tops . .29 On the Bench . .30-31 Col. James Jaworski, commander, 1st Mobilization Brigade, addresses Athlete of the week . .33 troops from the 41st BCT, Oregon Army National Guard, before their welcome home ceremony June 5 at the Special Events Center. Guest Happenings Visit the Middle Ages . .35-36 speaker, Brig. Gen. Myles Deering, commander, 45th BCT, Oklahoma Get Out . .37-38 Army National Guard, said, "Your journey has been a long and arduous one, but your performance and your contribution to the Classified advertising (719) 329-5236 national security of this great nation and the liberty of nations that See the one that got away. Display advertising (719) 634-5905 See Pages 24-25. otherwise would not be able to stand up for themselves has been Mountaineer editor (719) 526-4144 Post information (719) 526-5811 immeasurable. I want to thank you and each of your Families for Word of the month: Family Post weather hotline (719) 526-0096 their support of you during this deployment." MOUNTAINEER 2 June 14, 2007 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety Take care when on the water by Chief Warrant Officer are the keys to a safe day on the water. boat. An additional 200 to 250 people suffer David Muehleisen Coast Guard statistics reveal that a boat nonfatal injuries from mishaps. When operating Ground Task Force, U.S. Army Combat operator with a blood alcohol concentration a boat with a propeller, follow these simple steps: Readiness Center above .10 percent is estimated to be more than • Look before starting the engine 10 times more likely to die in an accident than • Never exit or enter from the rear while the Spending a day on the water is a great way to a sober operator. Most states and the federal engine is running relax and enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately, this government have a BAC limit of .08 percent, • Educate your passengers on propeller activity also has its share of danger. Knowing and it’s illegal to operate a motorboat, canoe, awareness some of the hazards involved will help ensure a rowboat, personal watercraft or any other vessel • Take extra care when towing passengers nice day in the sun doesn’t end in tragedy. under the influence of alcohol. Drinking alcohol • Never permit riders on the boat’s tail According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2005 and operating gasoline-fueled equipment proves Would you consider fishing a high-risk statistics, 491 Americans drowned while boating. the old saying “oil and water don’t mix” is true. activity? Would it even register as a possible risk Of those, 426 — a whopping 87 percent — Another threat we normally might not if someone told you they were going fishing failed to use a personal floatation device. From consider is operating a watercraft while using this weekend? Tragically, in December 2006, fiscal 2004 through Feb. 12, 2007, 30 Soldiers prescription or over-the-counter medications. Armywide two Soldiers lost their lives while died from drowning. Nine of those fatalities Common medications, such as those for blood fishing at a lake near their installation. Were they involved some type of watercraft, and in only pressure or allergies, might have side effects drinking? No, alcohol wasn’t a factor. Here’s what one instance was the Soldier wearing a PFD. that can be multiplied by environmental stressors. happened: One of the Soldiers was a nonswimmer Had they used PFDs, many of these Soldiers So, boating under their influence is a factor and neither wore a personal floatation device. might still be serving in our formations. even for those who don’t drink or use illegal When a storm blew in and the weather conditions Wearing a PFD can increase the survivability drugs. If you’re unsure or have questions about drastically changed the water’s surface conditions. rate of a nonswimmer or a swimmer who suddenly your medications, contact your physician. The Soldiers’ small vessel was no longer suitable finds himself in open water, but understanding According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating for the conditions and capsized. Wearing heavy your physical limitations, the effects of Safety Web site, www.uscg.mil, about 25-35 winter clothing and no PFDs, these Soldiers never environmental stressors, drugs and alcohol and people die every year as a result of being struck stood a chance of surviving this tragic event. implementing proper controls to mitigate the risks by the propeller and/or propulsion unit of their Take care anytime you’re near the water. Train as you fight, fight as you train Chief Warrant Officer David Muehleisen while 94 percent of Soldiers who used their seat belts let a heat casualty happen in your formation. Ground Task Force, U.S. Army Combat survived a rollover incident. Just as Soldiers can suffer a heat injury by not Readiness Center Units that practice rollover drills reap the benefits of drinking enough fluids, they also can drink too much. that training in disciplined, skilled and competent Hyponatremia is a condition where the sodium concen- What training can a unit conduct at home station to vehicle crews that react instinctively during a rollover.