Noncommissioned officer's quick thinking saves retired Army Colonel

By Justin Creech, Belvoir EagleNovember 14, 2014

Lifesaver
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir Headquarters Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Charles H. Williams, right, praises Sgt. Robert Grant, 163rd Armor Division, 2nd Armor Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division team leader, center, for taking quick action in... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Belvoir, Va. (Nov. 13, 2014) - A noncommissioned officer from the 1st Infantry Division was recognized during a brief ceremony, Thursday for taking quick action to save a retired Army colonel who was choking at the Fort Belvoir Dining Facility Nov. 4.

Sgt. Robert Grant, A Company, 163rd Armor Division, 2nd Armor Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division team leader noticed that retired Col. Robert Pfleghardt was choking while eating at the Dining Facility. Grant quickly made his way to Pfleghardt, dislodging the item with the Heimlich Maneuver.

"I was eating lunch and noticed Mr. Pfleghardt banging on his table," said Grant. "I could tell he was choking, so I ran over to him and dislodged the item."

Pfleghardt doesn't know what caused the item to get caught in his throat, but he's glad Grant quickly recognized what was happening.

"I tried to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on myself first," said Pfleghardt. "I banged on the table two or three times and Sgt. Grant came over."

Command Sgt. Maj. Charles H. Williams, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir, Headquarters Battalion presented Grant with a garrison coin. Williams is proud of the noncommissioned officer traits Grant demonstrated in saving Pfleghardt.

"Sgt. Grant did what we expect every noncommissioned officer to do," said Williams. "He saw a need and took action to resolve the situation."

Grant, who enlisted in the Army in 2011, said the medical training he's received in the Army allowed him to make a quick, rational decision when noticing Pfleghardt needed help. He said young Soldiers need to make sure they take their training seriously, too, since you never know when those skills will be needed to resolve an emergency.

"The training I've received definitely helped," said Grant. "I take every aspect of my training seriously because you never know when you might need them to help someone, in or out of the military."