Fort Lee Soldiers aid collasped, middle-aged man

FORT LEE, Va. (Nov. 3, 2011) -- Two Fort Lee Soldiers who had volunteered to support the search for a lost autistic boy last week instead found themselves as first-responders to another searcher in distress.

Pfc. Nicholas Cabral and Spc. Christian Shodahl, both assigned to the 54th Quartermaster Company, 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 49th QM Group, had joined a community effort to locate 8-year-old Robert Wood Jr. in Hanover County's North Anna Battlefield Park Oct. 26.

But during the search, they responded to calls for help in a parking lot and aided a man who collapsed from an undisclosed condition.

"We both proceeded to run over there," said the 20-year-old Cabral, "and when we got to the scene, he was laying face down in the gravel. We rolled him over, and I checked his pulse."

Cabral said the man, who he described as someone in his "late 50s," was semi-conscious and had a weak pulse. He immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation as Shodahl assisted.

"I wanted to see if I could get his pulse back up until the EMTs arrived," said the Cassville, Mo., native.

Cabral estimated that he performed CPR for approximately five minutes prior to the EMT's arrival. The Soldiers assisted the EMTs after they took over the scene.

No reports on the man's condition were available, but Cabral said he later got word the man is on his way to recovery.

"He's not out of the weather, but he was doing better and up and breathing," he said.

Lt. Col. Albert Tapp, the Soldiers' battalion commander, personally recognized the Soldiers for their actions.

"They went up there to help with a mission, and in the conduct of that mission, this unfortunate incident occurred," he said. "And because of their training, they were able to react and respond. We're very proud of them. They represented the 49th, Fort Lee and the Army well."

In retrospect, Cabral said during the call for help he only gave a few seconds to thinking about how he should aid the victim. His actions on the scene were due to his training as a Soldier, he said.

"In basic training, we learned combat lifesaving," said Cabral, "and we continue that throughout our careers. It's a big help in learning the protocols of what to do."

Furthermore, Cabral said he and Shodahl did what many people would have done.

"We did what I believe any other normal person or Soldier would do for a fallen battle buddy or for any human being," he said.

Shodahl had similar sentiments.

"It's a really good feeling," said the 29-year-old Kentuckian, "to make a contribution, to do your part to help."

That sense of humanity is what brought Cabral, Shodahl and about 15 other Fort Lee Soldiers to the battlefield in the first place. They all volunteered their time to support the search for Wood who became lost as he hiked with family members in the confines of the park. He was found Oct. 28 about one mile from where he was last seen. He had been missing since Oct. 23.

"I'm actually really excited and ecstatic about that," said Cabral, a husband and father of two toddlers.

Both Cabral and Shodahl are mortuary affairs specialists who recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and Kuwait. They both have handled remains of the fallen and witnessed the impact a loss has on others. Shodahl said his job is an honorable one, but he prefers celebrating life.

"I've seen the fallen and the people that grieve for the fallen," said Shodahl. "If I can help to prevent someone from grieving, even if it is the littlest thing, I'm happy."