Petty Officer 2nd Class Chad Morris, an aviation survival technician U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Bend, was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal for his life-saving actions on the morning of Oct. 22, 2019. At about 9:30am, Petty Officer 3rd Class Alexander Neuman, the duty flight mechanic at Coast Guard Air Facility Newport was found slumped over a computer terminal unresponsive, with no pulse.
Upon arriving at the crew lounge, Morris took control as a trained emergency medical technician. After directing a call to 911 and requesting an ambulance, Morris ordered the on-duty copilot to begin chest compressions. Meanwhile, he ran to the helicopter to grab the automated external defibrillator and attached it to the unresponsive flight mechanic. While awaiting the automated external defibrillator scan Morris started mouth-to-mouth in coordination with the chest compressions. The initial scan form the automated external defibrillator reported “shock advised” and Morris quickly initiated the shock.
“Coast Guard rescue swimmers have a daily impact on the lives of the American public, but rarely do we get a chance to save one of our own,” said Chief Petty Officer Roderick Ansley, chief of the Sector North Bend aviation survival technician shop.
The Meritorious Service Medal is a 1 ½-inch-in- diameter bronze medal made up of six rays expanding out from the top three points of what would be a five-pointed star. Two smaller stars outlined with carved edges are within the star. Standing upon two branches of upward-curving laurel, in front of the bottom of the star, is an eagle with its wings upraised. A ribbon joins the laurel between the feet of the eagle. Encircled on the reverse side is the inscription “United States of America” and “Meritorious Service.”
“Without a doubt, AST2 Morris’ actions were instrumental to saving the life of the Coast Guard flight mechanic,” said Capt. Kevin Nolan, Sector North Bend’s flight surgeon. “He recognized the medical emergency and took decisive action. His quick decision to use the automated external defibrillator is what brought the flight mechanic back to life.”
