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Life-saving attempt earns Airman praise, accolade

  • Published
  • By Capt. Wes Ticer
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNEWS) --  A 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Airman received a medal recently that will serve as a reminder of the day he unwittingly stepped into the spotlight while on a mission in Africa.
While waiting for his dinner companions at a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, Tech. Sgt. Bryant Billingsley heard a call for medical help from the lobby area where a South African businessman had collapsed.

Sergeant Billingsley, a distinguished visitor flight attendant assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, was on a DV airlift mission transporting Army Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb, Coalition Forces Land Component commander, to several locations in the Horn of Africa region.

Not sure what was happening, Sergeant Billingsley took a closer look. He found two men attempting CPR on a man who was not breathing and had no color in his face. The sergeant, who has CPR training, volunteered to assist the hotel staff in treating the man and the relieved hotel workers stepped aside as the sergeant took charge of the situation.

Maj. Michael Eaton, a C-20 pilot and fellow crewmember, was paged at the request of Sergeant Billingsley after about 15 to 20 minutes.

"As soon as I got there, it was obvious that Bryant had the situation under his control," Major Eaton said. The sergeant was doing chest compressions and directing another individual to administer breathing."

Sergeant Billingsley continued to perform CPR until the ambulance arrived about 45 minutes later. He said he explained to the emergency responders that the patient started breathing and regained color several times, but never got him to respond.

Later, the crew learned the patient didn't survive. "It was like a kick in the gut," Sergeant Billingsley said. "It really bothered me because he died."

However, Major Eaton said the outcome did not diminish the professionalism Sergeant Billingsley displayed as an Airman. "It was obvious to me that if Billingsley had not been there, the victim would have surely died on the floor of the hotel, with no chance for medical personnel to arrive and provide assistance," he said.

Sergeant Billingsley, 34, credited the CPR training that he has done every year since he was 15 years old as the calming force in his efforts.

Though people might dread the demands of recurring training, Sergeant Billingsley said "you take it for granted if you never use it." DV airlift crews are required to attend specialized first aid training in case they have to perform first aid while in flight.

When performing CPR, he said "it was like reading it out of the book." Afterward, he played it back in his mind and was amazed at how easily he was able to perform the steps without thinking about it.

The hotel employees expressed gratitude for the attempted life saving actions, Major Eaton said. The hotel manager was particularly grateful because he was having difficulty remembering the CPR steps since his last training was eight years ago, Major Eaton said. The major added that a representative from the South African Embassy sought the crew out the next day to express appreciation for Sergeant Billingsley's efforts.

Sergeant Billingsley's efforts did not go unnoticed. After landing in Djibouti about 36 hours later, the entire crew was summoned to the DV section in the cabin of the aircraft. At first, nothing seemed out of ordinary since the crew often is awarded coins from the distinguished passengers. General Whitcomb explained how the sergeant's actions, although ultimately unsuccessful, demonstrated professionalism, integrity and compassion, according to Major Eaton.

Next, the general presented Sergeant Billingsley with an Army Achievement Medal and thanked him for his actions.

Sergeant Billingsley has encountered accolades from 379th AEW leadership as well. "I'm proud to be an Airman standing next to Sergeant Billingsley," said Col Bill Mullins, 379th EOG commander. "This is inspiring, and may inspire others to perform similar feats where they may otherwise not have done so."

All the attention afforded to Sergeant Billingsley is not something he thinks is warranted. "I think any other Air Force member would have done the same thing," he said.

"I was very impressed by Sergeant Billingsley as a member of my crew long before this action, and he has done nothing but increase my appreciation for his attitude and professionalism," Major Eaton said.