Thank God for the United States Marine Corps

Not normal home-school stuff here, but let me tell you a little story....

We took a long weekend to drive down into the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. Sandhill Cranes migrate through this area in the spring, and it is a sight to behold. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands of the birds in the fields and in the air. If you have never heard their call, check out this video.



The festival is always fun, the kids get to eat, shop, view the cranes, and maybe even learn a little about birding. And, frankly, the trip down there is through some beautiful countryside, the sight of these magnificent birds against the snow covered peaks is awesome, and the entire experience is great! Don't expect to find gourmet food or five star lodging, but do expect to find friendly people.

So where does the Marine Corps fit into this story?

As we descended into the valley, my attention was on the road, as a driver ahead of us was pulling over to the shoulder. My wife exclaimed, "Did that just happen, or is it old?" I looked where she was looking, and saw the overturned car. It was still smoking/steaming, so I pulled over and called it in. She hopped out, and started back to the wreck, and I turned our car around and drove back to the accident site.

When I got out, I handed the phone to my wife, and headed toward the wreck, hoping that the first aid I learned a hundred years ago in Boy Scouts would suffice. There were two women at the scene, with one man laying on the ground. I was relieved when one of the women told the man on the ground that she was trained in emergency first aid and CPR. I asked if there was anyone else in the car, and yes, there was a woman in there. She was being helped out, so I escorted her up the grade to the side of the road.

When I returned, the first woman was trying to get the man to his feet. "Should we move him?" asked the second woman. "From my experience with overturned, smoking vehicles in the Marines - yes, we move him. If that car blows up, we don't want to be near it."

OK, if she wasn't in charge of this scene before, she is now. I helped her get this man to his feet. Once he was up, head bleeding, dazed, he looked at me and politely said "Hello". We must observe the proprieties, mustn't we. I grinned and kept him moving.

When we had him to the road side, another danger was evident - we are away from the possible fire, but the danger of a car hitting one of the parked cars was high, as we were just past a blind curve in the road. I sent my wife for our first aid kit, and our Marine started issuing more orders. She had already sent someone to a nearby house to phone emergency on a land line, and as she started to tend to this gentleman's head wound she said "I need someone to flag traffic." I took off - never in the military, but I know how to follow orders! When the emergency crews arrived they noted, pleased, that everything was already under control.

I regret I didn't get this woman's name, but I did shake her hand and thank her for her service. I also told her how lucky the injured man was to have her there. She humbly said she was just happy to be able to help. She is not currently enlisted, but she is a shining example of all the Corps represents.

As I told my girls, if I am ever in that kind of situation, send in the Marines!