Angel in stripes

by Senior Airman Mariah Tolbert
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

12/12/2013 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- In a split second, life flashed before her eyes. Suddenly, her surroundings spun and vehicles sped past her as the car hydroplaned across traffic.

Her heart racing and fingers grasped tightly around the steering wheel, she listened to the pattering of rain hit her car. She opened her eyes and saw a figure, in uniform, approaching her vehicle.

This was what Teresa Joyner, School Street Elementary School parent involvement coordinator, experienced the morning of Nov. 7, while she drove to work.

"I was en-route to work, when one of my worst possible nightmares began to unfold," Joyner said. "My vehicle began to hydroplane across two lanes of traffic, on Highway 70. My brakes locked and all I could do was let the vehicle have its way."

After about 50 cars passed by Joyner that did not stop, she looked up and saw that help had arrived.

"I finally looked up and saw an 'angel in stripes,'" she exclaimed. "This 'angel' assisted me with the utmost care, concern and consideration by first making sure I was not hurt, then standing in the rain to call for assistance to get me pulled from the muddy area of which I was stuck."

Joyner's 'angel in stripes,' was U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Garry Laub, 4th Operation Support Squadron special security representative.

"I stopped because I saw the skid marks and a vehicle in the median facing oncoming traffic," Laub said. "With the speed on that road and the conditions, it (would have been) near impossible for them to pull back out on the road safely."

When Laud approached the car, he said his first instinct was to make sure Joyner was okay and provide any emotional reassurance that Joyner needed. From there, he started making phone calls to the N.C. Highway Patrol and some tow companies to get her out of the deep mud that she was stuck in. Laub also let Joyner borrow his cell phone so she could advise her work and family of the situation.

"During the entire ordeal, (Laub) was very polite, considerate and kind in his efforts to assist," Joyner said. "For me, it wasn't so much what he did physically but that he cared enough for humankind to stop and assist in any way necessary, all with a demeanor and professionalism that would make the military proud."

Laub stated he didn't stop just because he was in uniform but because he was concerned for the safety of all traveling on the road that day. Laub also said that it was his way to pay it forward, because he knew that if he were in the same situation, he would want someone to stop as well.

"I feel that helping when it's obvious is just part of being a decent human being," Laud explained.

Following the accident, Joyner felt as though certain coincidences of the event could not be ignored.

That day, she was driving her father's, a retired technical sergeant's, vehicle who had passed away a mere three weeks before the accident. To Joyner the timing and similarities in rank between her father and Laub were more than a twist of fate. She felt as though Laub was intended to help her, to be her "angel in stripes."

"I count it an honor that I was helped by a Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Airman," Joyner said.

Joyner continued to state she was very appreciative of the emotional and physical assurance that Laub provided. Not just pulling over to make sure she was okay, but the way he acted throughout the incident and the actions he took to help her in any way possible.

"I feel that Laub's actions reflect very well on the Air Force and other branches of the military," she explained. "Race, gender, socio-economic status, time constraints and weather, none of those variables seemed to matter. He just saw someone in need and answered the call of duty. Thank you, Tech. Sgt. Laub, for taking the time to care and for being my 'angel in stripes.'"