Combat medic uses skills to save NCO's life

By Sgt. 1st Class Pete MayesOctober 20, 2009

Medic packs up
Spc. Timothy Lee, a medic with the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, packs his belongings as he heads home from the Expert Field Medical Badge Course site. Lee recently received an Army Com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Oct. 8, 2009) -- Spc. Timothy Lee used his combat medic skills to help save the lives of Iraqi nationals while he was deployed in theater.

He recently used those skills again, this time to help save the life of a fellow Soldier at Fort Campbell.

Lee, who is assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, used cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to save the life of fellow battalion Sgt. 1st Class Peter Kelly.

Lee received an Army Commendation Medal for his actions.

Maj. Robert "Sean" Newell, battalion executive officer, 2-44th ADA, said Lee's actions that day were in keeping with the Army Creed. "As Soldiers, we are never to leave behind a fallen comrade. On that day, (Lee) exemplified that," Newell said.

Lee said he was returning to his barracks on the morning of Oct. 7, after overnight duty as the medic at the Expert Field Medical Badge Course. As he got out of his truck, he said he was told a medic was needed to help a Soldier who was on the ground across the street.

"I got there and there were about 10 Soldiers huddled around (Kelly). He was on the ground and he didn't have a pulse," Lee said.

Lee said he began to administer CPR to Kelly in an attempt to revive him. The only time he ever performed CPR prior to that day was in AIT on a practice dummy, he said.

He continued to do so until an EMT unit arrived and took Kelly to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital. Kelly was later transferred to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. He was released and currently is recuperating at home.

Lee, who has been in the Army over two years, said he used the life-saving steps to treat Kelly ... skills that all combat medics learn in their Advance Individual Training. These same skills are what the medics are using as they compete for the right to wear the EFMB badge.

"It's about them using those skills and being proficient with them in a combat environment," Lee said.

Asked if he thought his skills made a difference in saving the sergeant's life, Lee answered humbly. "I think so."

Lee said he hopes to compete for his EFMB badge next year.

(Sgt. 1st Class Pete Mayes serves with the 101st Sustainment Brigade.)