Hydraulic Citizen Airmen stay fluid under pressure

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian Lamar
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Biloxi, MS -- --  Resorting to your training is what an Airman does in the days that life throws you a curve ball and you have to find a way to knock the mission out of the park and keep moving forward. Curveballs can come out of nowhere and if you are not prepared, they can threaten you or the others around you.

For Senior Airmen, Aaron Calhoun and Devante Bourgeois, two hydraulic specialists with the 403rd Maintenance group, a typical day of ordering parts for one of the C-130Js at Keesler was filling their morning schedule on Nov. 17.

The two Airmen had been working with a metals technician in the fabrication shop to custom order specific pieces needed to fix their aircraft.

Since the weather had been sunny and warm, the two decided to walk and they began to make their way down the sidewalk back to the Robert Consolidated Maintenance Facility here.

"I noticed the base security forces siren as they sped past us. Then I saw what looked like someone getting in trouble with the officer," said Calhoun. "We were curious and kept looking over as it looked as if the security forces pulled someone from the car and had a him on the ground," he explained.

Staff Sgt. Javonnia Peak, 81st Training Wing security forces, was trying to get a response from the collapsed victim who was a retired master sergeant visiting the base. While Peak was attempting to administer emergency treatment and reassure a distressed spouse, he saw the two maintenance Airmen looking back at him from down the street and summoned their help.

"He saw us being nosey and he yelled to us to hurry up and come help quick. We ran up to the scene and he told Bourgeois to start giving mouth-to-mouth, while I took the wife away to reassure her and keep her out of the way," said Calhoun. "She was very upset and they needed to focus on trying to save this man's life," he added.

While Calhoun escorted the victim's wife over to a nearby tree to comfort her and help her understand that she must not interfere, Bourgeois worked on the man on the ground.

"I didn't stop to think about my self-aid buddy care training. I just jumped to the task at hand.  My mind went blank and I just began doing what I was supposed to do to help," said Bourgeois.

Luckily for everyone at the scene, Bourgeois had recently been certified in CPR and felt secure in his duties.

"I don't know how fast or slow time actually went. I was watching someone fight for their life. At that point, I didn't worry about who he was or where he came from. It was just about helping someone in need with the best of my ability and training," said Bourgeois.

Bourgeois continued the chest compressions and assisted breaths for approximately ten minutes until the ambulance arrived.

"After he was in the ambulance, all I could do was walk over to the wife and give her a hug and try to comfort her and help her understand that things were going to be alright," Bourgeois said.

Soon, the explosion of activity that the two Airmen had been a part of died back down into a silent warm and sunny day as the sirens of the ambulance faded into the distance. The two regained their composure and finished their day working on the aircraft.

"An experience like this puts life in perspective. We get so caught up with running around doing our jobs, trying to promote and get more rank that we forget about the important things," said Bourgeois. "This reminds me to value my life and all life around me," he said.