CID Sailor Saves Drowning Woman from Pool in Pensacola

By Gary Nichols, Center for Information Dominance Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- A student at the Center for Information Dominance Unit (CID) Corry Station rescued a drowning woman he found floating face down in a Pensacola hotel pool March 13.

Information Systems Technician "A" School student Seaman Apprentice Nicholas Putskey, 19, of Wautoma, Wis., resuscitated Barbara Hogan of Massachusetts, who had lost consciousness while swimming in a hotel pool.

Lt. Larry Richardson of the Myrtle Grove Volunteer Fire Dept., which responded to the emergency call, credited Putskey's quick action with saving Hogan's life.

"It was definitely crucial," Richardson said. "It only takes a little bit of time in the water to make or break them, so he definitely did what he was supposed to, that's for sure."

"He is a hero," Hogan said. "Both myself and my family are grateful to him. I owe my life to him."

Hogan was in the area to visit her son who had recently graduated from "A" school at CID Unit Corry Station.

Putskey's mother, Jane Putskey, and fiancée, Chelsey Clark, both of Wautoma, were spending spring break in Pensacola to visit him.

He and his girlfriend were swimming at the same time that Hogan and her niece were playing in the pool.

As the young couple were about to leave the pool, Clark noticed Hogan was face down and immobile.

"I immediately dived into the pool and pulled her out," Putskey said. "She was blue in the face, blue as can be, and she wasn't breathing at all."

Since Hogan wasn't breathing, Putskey immediately began CPR. Meanwhile, Clark watched the little girl and called for help.

"I revived her and she came back to her senses," Putskey said. "She was a little dazed, and didn't know where she was, but she was alive."

Putskey and Clark stayed with Hogan until fire-rescue arrived on scene.

Hogan was transported by Myrtle Grove Volunteer Fire Department to Baptist Health Care where she was treated and later released.

"He pulled her out of the water, gave her a few rescue breaths, then started CPR," Richardson said. "She definitely had water in her lungs, but she was alert by the time we got there."

Putskey said his boot camp training was the key to him doing the right thing at the time.

"At the time, it was just instinct that kicked in and made me do what I did," Putskey said. "What I learned at boot camp - CPR and first aid - all came back to me. I'm glad it all worked out."

CID Unit Commanding Officer Cmdr. L. Sung had high praise for the young Sailor who reported on board CID Unit Corry Station in October for training.

"Seaman Nicholas Putskey embodies our Navy core values of honor, courage, and commitment. His actions were truly of a heroic nature and are a testament to his training at Recruit Training Center Great Lakes," Sung said. "His humble demeanor is an example of his commitment of service to others. We at CID Unit Corry Station are all very proud of his quick reaction in saving the life of another Sailor's mother."

All the attention that has suddenly been focused on Putskey has made him a bit self-conscious. He said the successful rescue couldn't have happened without others pitching in and doing their part.

"It was definitely a team effort," Putskey said. "For example, a lady named Tamea, who is one of the hotel maids, stayed with me to help calm the woman and make her comfortable while my girlfriend went for help."

CID is the Navy's learning center that leads, manages and delivers Navy and joint force training in information operations, information technology, cryptology and intelligence.

With a staff of nearly 1,300 military, civilian and contracted staff members, CID oversees the development and administration of more than 168 courses at four commands, two detachments and 14 learning sites throughout the United States and in Japan. CID provides training for approximately 24,000 members of the U.S. Armed Services and allied forces each year.