UCLA ROTC instructors saving the world

Stars& Stripes reports that the staff of the UCLA ROTC detachment were all in a minivan when they witnessed and accident ahead. Maj. Tyrone Vargas, UCLA assistant adjunct professor, Lt. Col. Shannon Stambersky, UCLA professor of military science, Maj. Steve Kwon.Rear from left: Sgt. 1st Class Rhu Maggio, military instructor, Romeo Miguel, recruiting operations officer, Victoria Sanelli, manager of UCLA Army ROTC all leapt into action;

Maggio and Maj. Tyrone Vargas helped the driver from the burning rig before realizing that a crumpled Honda was pinned under the truck and rapidly becoming engulfed in flames.

“That’s when we all rushed to aid the trapped driver of the car,” said Maj. Steve Kwon, who was visiting UCLA from Fort Knox, Ky., according to a university news release. “The fire was already burning and was picking up flames.”

The man was on fire but rubble from the truck blocked his rescue;

Soon, someone arrived with a battery-powered saw. One of the soldiers cut through the obstacles another pulled the driver from the wreck.

“Within 30 seconds, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames,” Kwon said.

The driver was transported to UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center with third-degree burns. The soldiers planned to walk across campus to visit and check in on his recovery, officials said.

“I truly believe they saved his life,” California Highway Patrol Sgt. Jose Ahumada told KTLA. “To them, we say thank you very much.”

The soldiers credit their success with their military training.

Vargas, a 22-year veteran, said he’s been drilling it into the cadets to make decisions and be leaders that others will follow. The day after the crash, he said, a cadet approached him after seeing video of the rescue.

“Good job,” the cadet said. “You walk the walk.”

Category: Real Soldiers