SAN DIEGO (NNS) – Capt. Eugene Doyle, commander, Submarine Squadron 11, awarded Senior Chief Electronics Technician John Montgomery with the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on Jan. 8 for his proactive actions in a vehicle accident the previous week.
Montgomery, assigned to Submarine Squadron 11, administered CPR to a man who had suffered a heart attack while driving on New Year’s Day.
“It’s an amazing story, and his actions were very heroic,” said Doyle, while addressing the command. “If I were part of that family, I’d be very appreciative for what he did.”
Montgomery witnessed a car crash on the freeway while driving his parents to his home from the airport.
“I immediately pulled over to ensure that the people in the car were not injured or that they did not need any help,” said Montgomery.
The driver’s wife told Montgomery that she believed her husband was experiencing a heart attack. She allowed to take her children into his vehicle with his mother to keep them calm. Montgomery and his father then began performing CPR after the driver’s wife reported the incident and their location to a 911 operator.
“My Navy training helped me to stay calm and to handle the situation effectively,” said Montgomery.
According to Montgomery, he and his father sustained the procedure for approximately 20 minutes until emergency services arrived. They assisted the emergency medical technicians with transferring the man from the vehicle and assisted the man’s family in changing a tire so they could follow the ambulance to the hospital.
“I feel that we really helped this man and his family,” said Montgomery. “I wasn’t expecting an award. I think a lot of people at this command would have stepped up and done the same thing.”
Doyle agreed that his Sailor’s quick response helped to make a difference.
“I understand the man is still trying to recover,” said Doyle. “But thanks to Senior Chief Montgomery and his father, he has a shot at that.”
For more information about Commander, Submarine Squadron 11, visit http://www.csp.navy.mil/css11 and www.facebook.com/COMSUBRONELEVEN.
For more news from Commander, Submarine Squadron 11, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/css11/.