What friends are for: Airman saves another's life during mission

Published Sept. 8, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Vincent Borden
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- No one could see that Airman William Dale was dying.

The last thing he remembered doing was leaning forward to ask his friend the question, 'Do you feel weird?' but it never came out. Instead Airman 1st Class Dale, a Fly Away Security Team member from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, involuntarily leaned to his right before entering the dark.

He started shaking shortly thereafter.

"Hey quit it," said Airman 1st Class Thomas Everett , one of three other FAST team members that was traveling with Airman Dale. The C-130 Hercules they were on was headed to the Horn of Africa on a routine cargo mission in early August, and they were 45 minutes into the flight. As FAST members, their job was to protect the aircraft when it landed at an unconventional airstrip somewhere in the U.S Central Command area of responsibility. Serious work. No time for jokes.

"Stop messing around," he said as he shook Airman Dale's knee. But there was something about his response, notably the lack of one, that made Airman Everett realize something was terribly wrong with his friend, a 19-year-old Airman who had been his roommate during their technical training just a few months ago.

Airman Dale was wearing an emergency passenger oxygen systems mechanism, designed to provide oxygen to passengers in cases of in-flight emergencies. Just minutes before, the loadmaster of the aircraft had handed both Airman Everett and Airman Dale one each, telling them there was a high chance they would have to use it.

After the hydraulic pump on the aircraft exploded, creating a smoky haze in the cargo area, the loadmaster let them know that time was now. They immediately went through the procedure of putting the EPOS on over their heads, and pulling the red ball outside of it to let the oxygen out.

After a few moments, Airman Dale realized something was wrong, but not before it was too late to say anything.

Airman Everett immediately sprung into action.

"I didn't know what was going on around me," said Airman Everett, a native of Rome, Ga. "All I could see was him. That was it. Somebody could have been talking to me. I don't remember."

He quickly took off Airman Dale's EPOS, and in the slowed reality that followed took the situation in. Airman Dale's eyes were rolled back in his head, and his skin had taken on a faint blue tint.

"I don't think I've ever been that scared," Airman Everett said of the scene. He sat Airman Dale upright, and checked his EPOS to make sure it was working. It wasn't. He pulled at the ball on the back, put it back over his head and kept asking him if he was ok, waiting for a response as the oxygen slowly began to fill the bag. Waiting for movement from his friend, who was possibly minutes away from dying in his arms.

The two other FAST members aboard the flight, Staff Sgt. Jae Paulsen and Airman 1st Class Renn Adair, joined him around Airman Dale in nervous anticipation.

Waiting.

Airman Dale shook his head slowly after what seemed like an eternity, and smiled. He was all right. A smile spread across Airman Everett's face.

"Ten minutes after that he was up and moving," Airman Everett said. "It felt so good to see him get up."

Because of mechanical difficulty, the C-130 had to turn around and return to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. All the members onboard were given oxygen upon exiting the aircraft and were seen immediately by the base medical staff.

After further check-up, Airman Dale, who had just become a father two days before the mission, was cleared by doctors as having no side effects from the incident. Sometimes he wonders what could have happened to him on the flight, and how it would have changed the lives of those he loves.

"My wife is ok," said Airman Dale, a native of Columbia, S.C. "I think about what would have happened if ... you know. My baby girl wouldn't have a father. Or that I might have had brain damage if I would have been out a couple minutes longer."

Tech. Sgt. James Seidel, 386 th Expeditionary Security Forces FAST coordinator, has nominated Airman Everett for the Airman's Medal.

"He put service to his wingman above his own," Sergeant Seidel said.

The EPOS on the aircraft remain an item of interest. Maj. James Schumaker, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing safety office, said the investigation of the incident is currently ongoing.

And as a result of the event, Airman Everett and Airman Dale's friendship is closer than ever. When they both return to their home station at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., they'll have an interesting story to tell everyone of their friendship.

"We were already good friends, but I have a lot more trust in him," Airman Dale said. "You know, I think I trusted him before, but not with my life," he said with a laugh. "Now I know if I'm in trouble and need someone, I know who I want there."