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Willcox's HM3 Terrence Bell saves life of Iraqi civilian trucker
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| An Iraqi civilian truck driver is seriously hurt following an accident, and Willcox Hospital Corpsman Terrence Bell helps to save his life. (PHOTO COURTESY/Manny Salazar) |
By Regimental Combat Team 8 / 3d AA Bn/For the Range News
On April 21, 2009 the western Al Anbar Rule of Law team was returning from a successful engagement at the Rutbah courthouse. Security, transportation, and support for this successful engagement was provided by Major Michael A. Haley, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion (3d AA Bn).
Somewhere in between Camp Korean Village and Rutbah, as the convoy approach a hairpin turn in the road, Staff Sargeant Patrick D. Staffa, in the lead vehicle, spotted a horrific crash scene, where a semi-trailer and cab had flipped off the roadway into the desert. As it later proved, the trucker had been carrying a load of tomatoes from Syria to Rutbah and had lost control of his cargo coming around the bend.
The driver was in obvious distress, stunned, helpless, severely injured, and bleeding profusely. SSgt. Staffa immediately called the convoy to a halt. Then he approached the company executive officer, Captain Matthew G. Murawski, and asked him to approve the rendering of aid to the crash victim.
The captain blessed off on the decision even as HM3 Terrence Bell (Hospital Corpsman) ran to stanch the truck driver's bleeding. Coalition Forces routed traffic safely past the crash scene until the Iraqi Police arrived. Although the Iraqi first responders got to the scene very quickly, considering the remoteness of the site, it is highly doubtful that they could have arrived in time to save the trucker's life.
Doc Bell gave first-aid treatment to the truck driver, who had suffered a compound fracture of the arm, a grave head-wound, and many other injuries. Once Doc Bell had stabilized the victim, CF helped the IP to load the injured man into the Iraqi Police transport.
There is little doubt that the humanitarian impulses of the staff and officers of the 3d AA Bn, as well as the expert capabilities of Doc Bell, saved the life of this unfortunate trucker. The Iraqi first responders were quite grateful to the Coalition Forces for their timely assistance.
HM3 Terrence Bell is a 2002 Willcox High School graduate. His parents are Tom and Kim Bell of Willcox.
Somewhere in between Camp Korean Village and Rutbah, as the convoy approach a hairpin turn in the road, Staff Sargeant Patrick D. Staffa, in the lead vehicle, spotted a horrific crash scene, where a semi-trailer and cab had flipped off the roadway into the desert. As it later proved, the trucker had been carrying a load of tomatoes from Syria to Rutbah and had lost control of his cargo coming around the bend.
The driver was in obvious distress, stunned, helpless, severely injured, and bleeding profusely. SSgt. Staffa immediately called the convoy to a halt. Then he approached the company executive officer, Captain Matthew G. Murawski, and asked him to approve the rendering of aid to the crash victim.
The captain blessed off on the decision even as HM3 Terrence Bell (Hospital Corpsman) ran to stanch the truck driver's bleeding. Coalition Forces routed traffic safely past the crash scene until the Iraqi Police arrived. Although the Iraqi first responders got to the scene very quickly, considering the remoteness of the site, it is highly doubtful that they could have arrived in time to save the trucker's life.
Doc Bell gave first-aid treatment to the truck driver, who had suffered a compound fracture of the arm, a grave head-wound, and many other injuries. Once Doc Bell had stabilized the victim, CF helped the IP to load the injured man into the Iraqi Police transport.
There is little doubt that the humanitarian impulses of the staff and officers of the 3d AA Bn, as well as the expert capabilities of Doc Bell, saved the life of this unfortunate trucker. The Iraqi first responders were quite grateful to the Coalition Forces for their timely assistance.
HM3 Terrence Bell is a 2002 Willcox High School graduate. His parents are Tom and Kim Bell of Willcox.
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