YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - At ceremony here May 13, Seoul American Middle School students thanked the JSA Security Battalion Soldier who carried one of their classmates out of the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel near the Korean DMZ.
Spc. Shawn Harner from the United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area rushed to the aid of 13-year-old Nick Choi when he started showing signs of dehydration halfway down the tunnel during a SAMS tour to the DMZ April 28.
Harner said that he and fellow UNCSB-JSA Security Escort Spc. Daniel Pounds determined that Choi was dehydrated and needed to be carried up the steep walkway and out of the tunnel.
Harner used the fireman carry to take Choi out of the tunnel and then got him some water.
At a gathering in front of the school May 13, Choi and his fellow 7th graders presented a signed class photo and a SAMS t-shirt and hoody to Harner.
"This is to thank you for carrying me out of the tunnel," said Choi.
A Berwick, Pa., native who served two combat tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division, Harner said his training helped him quickly respond to the situation.
"It was not difficult for me due to my training as an infantryman," said Harner, who reported to the battalion three days before the SAMS tour.
Harner said he enjoys serving with UNCSB-JSA because it is "small unit and the Soldiers are well trained and stick together."
According to UNCSB-JSA Commander Lt. Col. John Rhodes, Harner's actions exemplify the elite nature of his battalion.
"Our Soldiers are hand-picked to serve on the frontlines of freedom," said Rhodes, "and they truly live up to our battalion's motto 'In front of them all.'"
Nick Choi said the downside of getting sick during the tunnel tour was that he missed the rest of the annual 7th grade class trip to the Korean DMZ and Joint Security Area.
But SAMS Principal David Dinges said he will let Choi go on the next class tour to the Korean DMZ.
"We know he's in good hands," said Dinges.
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