Airmen recognized for gallant efforts during bus crash

by Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/3/2012 - OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Five Airmen from the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron were recognized for their gallant efforts in response to a vehicle accident that occurred on base Nov. 22, 2011.

Col. Patrick McKenzie, 51st Fighter Wing commander, presented certificates to three of the five Airmen in a commander's call held Jan. 13, 2012.

"It's nice to recognize someone for doing an amazing job," McKenzie said. "These Airmen went above and beyond the call of duty and performed extremely well."

Tech. Sgt. Justin Pederson, Senior Airman Robert Farmer, Senior Airman Richard Turner, Airman 1st Class Mark Penn and Airman 1st Class Tylor King are the Airmen who were recognized.

Farmer, Turner and Penn were traveling Perimeter Road at about 10 a.m. the day of the accident when they noticed the bus.

Using skills honed during an Operational Readiness Exercise the week prior, the Airmen immediately assessed the scene and radioed for help. They provided self-aid-and-buddy care to the passenger in the vehicle. The other was trapped under the steering column.

They tried helping the trapped individual but knew they would have to wait for the fire department to arrive. Pederson and King were two of the firefighters who were called to the scene.

"We just got back from an in-flight emergency when we got the call for this crash," King said. "There is a moment of excitement when we respond to something and not knowing what to expect."

He said when they arrived on the scene, saw the damaged bus and realized they would need to cut the bus driver out using the Jaws of Life.

There was no door on the driver's side, so they made one, King said.

From there they continued to cut around the dashboard until they could get the driver out.

Not only was this a rare incident to have on base, King said this was his first extraction he has performed.

The Airmen were also recognized and coined by the director of the 51st FW Safety office, Lt. Col. Jason Cockrum, for their quick action.