NHB Corpsman Recognized at American Red Cross 'Real Heroes' Event

By Douglas H. Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- A hospital corpsman from Naval Hospital Bremerton was recognized by the American Red Cross serving King and Kitsap Counties as their recipient of the 2011 Military award March 1.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Marvin Belanio was honored for his lifesaving efforts at rendering emergency first aid on an airline flight at the 13th Annual Real Heroes Breakfast that drew a packed crowd of civic and community leaders.

"I'm surprised and humbled by being recognized for doing something that any corpsman would have done in such a situation," said Belanio, leading petty officer for NHB's Bio Medical Repair division.

Belanio was returning last May to NHB from a fiscal logistics symposium in Maryland aboard a Delta Airlines flight. Just as he put his headphones on and began to relax for the five hour flight, he heard a thump on the plane's floor. Looking ahead a few rows, he spotted a gentleman lying on the floor. The fellow passenger had collapsed, and just as Belanio started towards the man, the flight crew was calling for assistance from a doctor, or anybody with medical experience. A quick look around confirmed to Belanio that he was the only one qualified to handle the situation.

"I might have actually felt more than heard the thump of the passenger falling. The gentleman fell face first and obviously medical assistance was immediately needed. When I reached him, I noticed he had a pallid color and wasn't breathing. There was commotion and flustered people around him. Some wanted to move him, but I quickly took charge. The last thing we wanted to do in such a situation is move anyone in such a condition because there could be some type of spine injury. Especially with the kind of force he had to incur landing the way he did."

"I didn't see the passenger go down but I did notice that HM1 Belanio jumped out of his seat right away to render assistance. It was 'corpsman up' and there he was. While everyone else was looking around for someone to step up, that's exactly what he did. He told the flight attendants, "I'm a Navy corpsman and I can help him," said Lt. j.g. Rachel Smith, NHB assistant department head for Materiel Management, who was also on the flight and sitting three rows behind Belanio.

Belanio assessed the patient and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that resuscitated the passenger. "I did the 'look-listen-feel' and received no response. I started the CPR which got his breathing back," Belanio said.

For the remainder of the flight, Belanio continued to assess and monitor the passenger.

Upon arriving in Seattle, Belanio briefed the emergency responders waiting to take over, was personally thanked by the flight crew and passengers, and was later awarded a free flight and bottle of champagne from Delta Airlines.

"HM1 Belanio has experience in combat caring for Marines and Sailors. He's a stand-up guy who always does the right thing. He has earned the right to be called 'doc' by his Marines, which is the highest honor for a hospital corpsman. What he did on that flight to help just showed why he is a 'doc', said Smith.

"I really don't consider myself a hero, but my wife Michelle does tell our two-year old that 'daddy is a hero,' and it is pleasing that she thinks that. My parents are also very happy and proud," said Belanio, a Wash. native and 13-year Navy veteran, with a background in emergency care. Belanio has served two tours in Iraq with Marine units as well as taught trauma support courses such as Tactical Combat Casualty Care training.

"Basic life support is something all corpsmen know. It's what we do. I think that all of us in uniform who are making such sacrifices to care for others are the real heroes. A hero is just someone at the right place at the right time to make an effort to help when needed," said Belanio.

The American Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast celebrates extraordinary acts of courage and compassion by Kitsap County and North Mason County heroes, with those honored being chosen from hundreds of applications by a selection committee. Each Real Hero from the greater Kitsap Peninsula had a special tribute for their respective acts of heroism which included such as areas as; Good Samaritan, Animal Rescue, Call to Action, Law Enforcement, Fire Rescue, Good Neighbor, Medical, Preparedness, Water Rescue and Military.