FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- Kudos to Staff Sgt. Joshua Hughes and Staff Sgt. Alexander Perez for doing the right thing: Acting when others did not, in order to help someone in need.

On March 21, 2013, during a day of prospecting, this time at the food court in the Solano Mall where the Fairfield Career Center is located, Hughes and Perez witnessed an elderly man exhibiting distress and signs of a seizure. They began administering first aid. They directed a bystander to call 911. Upon discovering the man was ­diabetic, they supplied him with a Monster energy drink to help stabilize the man until emergency medical services could arrive.

Their actions are an example of living the Army ­Values. In this case, it is the Army Value of Integrity, doing the right thing helping someone in need. Hughes, when asked about the incident, did not think it was even worth mentioning. "It was just what anyone would have done," he said. His answer is also a demonstration of living the Army Value of Selfless Service.

It bears remembering that U.S. Army Soldiers hold themselves to a higher standard in living by the Army Values than is the norm in our society. It is also a standard that even the best of us can struggle with putting into action.

So thank you again to Hughes and Perez for reminding us how to get it right.

The cost: Time lost from "Mission Objectives" ... 15 minutes. Monster energy drink ... $2.25. Having the general public see Army Values in action saving lives ... Priceless.