Unbecoming of an Officer
The group of students, all asked if I was alright and offered assistance. One of the boys retrieved my notebook which went flying when I fell and even stayed with me until I was able to get up, offering assistance the entire time.
Why am I sharing this story with you? Because considering the rep teenagers get these days, I think this community ought to be proud of these fine young adults. Not one of them laughed or even snickered.
The other thing I find remarkable about is that not one of the men in uniform representing the Army National Guard 1027 came over and asked if I was alright, much less offered assistance. In case anyone is thinking they might not have realized I was hurt, it took me five minutes before I could turn over and sit on my rear after falling! And yes, they saw me fall. I had made eye contact with one of the soldiers and maintained it as I was falling. Yet not one of them even came over to check on me.
Once I was finally able to move my ankle and had managed to reassure myself it was not broken, with one of the students still offering assistance, I thanked him took back my notebook and limped my way to the helicopter. I took a few pictures and then I asked the soldiers the specifics on the helicopter and what unit they were with.
I was shocked when one soldier proudly said they were with the Army National Guard 1027 MEDICAL unit. I looked at him and the two or three other soldiers now standing around and said, “You mean not only did none of you men in uniform who have signed on to protect and serve our country came over to see if I was alright or offer assistance, but on top of that you’re medics!?” They laughed and said they didn’t have any of their medical equipment with them.
Well, none of the students had any medical equipment with them either and I doubt any of them had any medical training but they all asked how I was and offered assistance. I don’t have any medical training but when I see someone fall I have the common decency to ask if they are alright and offer assistance. That’s how my mother raised me and obviously how the mother of these student’s raised them.
I was ashamed at the non-action of the men wearing the uniform representing my country. How can anyone, regardless of what they are wearing, the training they have or haven’t received or what equipment they have or don’t have with them, not check on someone they watch fall down and offer assistance, especially when it is obvious they are hurt? I went to the doctor later that day and was put in an air-cast. I have a very bad sprain and was given a prescription to help with the pain. As I write this, a week after falling, my ankle still hurts and the swelling just went down enough that I can get my tennis shoe on.
Before anyone says I am an anti-war person or anti-government, I wear red almost every Friday to show my support of our troops, those serving abroad and stateside. But I do find the actions, or lack there of, of these particular men to be shameful and unbecoming of an officer.
As for the students who did ask if I was alright and especially the boy who stayed with me and offered to assist me in getting up, I am grateful to you and extremely proud of you. I wish I had gotten your names so everyone could know exactly who you are, but since I was in so much pain, I neglected to do that. But you know who you are and I appreciate what you did. The members of the Army National Guard 1027 Medical Unit who were on that field could learn a lot from you.
