FORT CARSON, Colo.-Not all heroes wear capes and masks; some wear boots and Kevlar.
Hero is a good word for Sgt. 1st Class Jesus Rodriguez, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 759th Military Police Battalion and his actions.
What started out as a leisurely day Feb. 7 between a Soldier and his former
company commander, turned into an adrenaline-pumping, quick-thinking event.
Rodriguez arrived at Fort Carson at the beginning of January and had run into Maj. Michael Ogden, Fort Carson Inspector General's Office, who was his commander seven years earlier in Germany. Ogden invited Rodriguez to meet at Garden of the Gods, so their families could meet and to see the park for the first time.
"When we walked into the park, I saw people climbing and it looked like fun," said Rodriguez. "I told my wife that I would like to try that."
But the fun for the two families abruptly stopped when they heard a horrific sound.
"We had just arrived, when I heard a noise, but our wives knew one of the climbers fell," said Ogden. "(The climbers) were about 50-100 feet away, but (Rodriguez and I) just took off running toward the sound."
An Air Force Academy cadet, climbing with friends on the rocks, had fallen nearly 100 feet, landing on his back on cement. The cadet was wearing a safety harness.
Ogden was stopped by his wife, because he had his one-year-old child on his back. After giving his child to his wife, Ogden continued to the scene. By the time he arrived, Rodriguez was already assessing the situation and trying to assist the climber. Ogden called 911 while Rodriguez instructed the other climbers to help him stabilize the fallen climber.
"I knew when I saw Rodriguez working on the cadet, that there was a United States Army noncommissioned officer working on this guy, I knew the situation was under control," said Ogden.
"My first thought was he might need CPR, but I'm not certified. I put my ear to his mouth and heard a gurgling," said Rodriguez, a previous Soldier of the Quarter and NCO of the Year winner.
The climber was choking on his own blood and needed his airway cleared, so Rodriguez rendered assistance and the cadet began coughing and breathing on his own. Rodriguez instructed people at the scene to help him apply pressure to bleeding wounds. During this time, a doctor who was at the park took over the medical treatment. Within 15 minutes, the Colorado Springs Fire Department high-angle rescue team responded from Station 5 and evacuated the climber to a local hospital.
"Every breath he took, we worried it would be his last," Ogden said. "I wanted him to keep fighting."
Thanks to his Combat Lifesaver Training, Rodriguez knew exactly what to do, even though he had never been in a situation like this.
"When you go to Combat Lifesaver Training, take it seriously," said Rodriguez. "You never know when you are going to need it."
"Our Soldiers are well trained and this type of incident is not uncommon in combat situations," Ogden said. "The ability to navigate through the trauma of a situation and apply those skills is a direct result of the quality of training we receive."
One week after the accident, the hospitalized cadet opened his eyes and moved his fingers. He had suffered compound fractures and has undergone spinal surgery to repair his completely severed spinal cord.
The cadet's aunt sent out an e-mail thanking those who helped and said her nephew has a long recovery ahead of him. The cadet was a triathlon runner who had some climbing experience.
Rodriguez will be leaving Fort Carson to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School. When he returns, he will be assigned back to 759th MP Bn.
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