Grand Forks AFB Airmen save lives at deployed location

Published April 24, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Three Airmen deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., were recently lauded for heroic actions at their location in Southwest Asia.

Airman 1st Class Charles Coushaine, 319th Force Support Squadron, and Airmen 1st Class Benjamin Hitzelberger and Vanessa Oros, 319th Civil Engineer Squadron, witnessed an accident involving two motor vehicles traveling at high speed on a road outside of their deployed installation March 23, 2013. The Grand Forks deployers were with five other Airmen when they saw the accident.

The Airmen took it upon themselves to assist the victims and to ensure no other oncoming traffic would complicate the situation.

The Airmen split up to assess the two vehicles, one of which was a sport utility vehicle.

Oros and two other Airmen called local emergency personnel for assistance, conducted a hazard assessment and pulled the victims out of the wreckage to provide initial medical treatment.

Once the five accident victims were out of the SUV, the team took them to a safe triage area away from the highway and observed them until host-nation emergency responders arrived.
Coushaine and Hitzelberger, meanwhile, were directed by another NCO to begin a damage assessment on the other wrecked vehicle.

"I have to check on that car on the side of the road," Coushaine said. "That was my first thought when I saw the accident happen."

Coushaine described the following minutes as the toughest part of the ordeal.

"The scariest moment for me was after running over to the car and not being able to see anything but the two front seats because the back seats were caved in," said Coushaine. "I knew there was going to be a fatality."

Immediately after reaching the car, the 24-year-old from Rindge, N.H., heard cries coming from inside the vehicle. He found a young girl in the back seat, trapped between the door and frame of the car, with an infant trapped underneath her.

"We had difficulty seeing the children because the vehicle was so damaged," said Coushaine.

The Airmen pulled the children to safety, provided basic medical care and offered personal clothing to help treat them for shock and to keep the children warm - techniques the deployed Warriors of the North attribute to the Air Force training they've received.

The situation grew even more tragic as Coushaine's first thought of a fatality taking place was confirmed.

"It was very traumatic for me to see the mother of the children pass away before my eyes," said Coushaine.

Col. Stephanie Wilson,379th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander, offered her thoughts on the efforts displayed by the Airmen that day.

"The actions these Airmen took epitomize the terms selflessness, teamwork, leadership and most of all compassion--compassion to help in a minute's notice, no matter the circumstance or risk involved," said Wilson. "These Airmen without a doubt remained calm under pressure during a very chaotic scene and made a difference in people's lives that will never be forgotten."