Three Selected Reservists (SELRES) assigned to Navy Operational Support Center Kansas City (NOSC Kansas City) rendered aid to a local driver involved in a car accident in Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 26, 2020.

Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Brandon Veale, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Rhodes, and Electronics Technician 2nd Class Michael Tyrone provided immediate assistance to an injured female victim moments after her vehicle crashed into a street light near an intersection.   

Veale, who witnessed the accident, said he was on his way to report for duty when the driver beside him crashed into the steel light post which caused the vehicle to flip onto its driver’s side.

“I heard the loud noise of a car wreck and it sounded really close so at first I thought I had been in an accident,” said Veale. “I got out to assess the damage and I realized they hadn’t hit me but had hit a street light instead. I ran over to check if she was okay but, when I asked she wasn’t responding.”

Rhodes was stopped at a gas station on an adjacent corner when he heard the crash. He yelled for witnesses to call 911 as he approached the vehicle just after Veale. Looking inside the broken driver’s-side window, Rhodes found the victim unconscious and bleeding from a head injury. He checked the victim’s vitals as Veale directed traffic.

Veale recalled that the victim came in and out of consciousness. Rhodes tried talking with the victim in an attempt to keep her calm and awake. As Rhodes aided the victim, her weight shifted in the overturned vehicle, which caused the shoulder harness of her seatbelt to cut off her airway.  

Neither Rhodes nor Veale had any tools in their possession that could be used to cut off the seatbelt. However, Tyrone, who was transiting near the area and had tools, saw the crashed vehicle and approached to assist.

“I was on my way to the NOSC for drill weekend when I noticed the accident,” said Tyrone. “I saw the other Sailors assisting and it just made sense to me to help by blocking the incoming traffic with my car. When I got out they asked me if I had anything they could use to cut the seatbelt. I just so happened to have a kit that had an emergency seatbelt cutter that I purchased a while back.”

Rhodes and Veale crawled under the turned over vehicle to access the victim. Rhodes stabilized the victim’s head and neck while Veale cut the seatbelt. The Sailors then remained on scene with the injured woman as Kansas City Fire Department medical personnel arrived on scene.

Upon notice of the Sailors’ actions, Navy Operational Support Center Kansas City Commanding Officer Cmdr. William Welch spoke about the three Sailors assigned to his command.

“For them to take initiative and action speaks volumes about their courage and willingness to put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others,” said Welch. “Navy Reservists exist and are designed to support our Nation’s wartime efforts when called upon. These Sailors’ ability to balance serving our Navy with serving the community they live in is just another example of their commitment to selflessly serve others in times of need.”

As Reservists, all three Sailors live and also work civilian jobs in the local community. Veale, a full-time police officer with the Kansas City Police Department, attributed his ability to respond to critical situations under a moment’s notice to his training and experience both in the military and as a civilian policeman.

“I was proud of the job we did as first responders but, personally I don’t think we did anything really that special,” said Veale. “It was really just the normal thing to do.”

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