During November, many pause and reflect on being grateful -- especially one Elizabeth City, North Carolina, police officer who is thankful a U.S. Navy Sailor was at the right place, at the right time.

Naval Helicopter Aircrewman 1st Class George Parsons III, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, was at his Elizabeth City home on Oct. 24, when a police officer came through his neighborhood chasing a suspect. Not wanting to interfere with official police business, Parsons watched from a distance as events unfolded.  

“The assailant had stolen a car and the police officer was pursuing him into our neighborhood,” said Parsons, who is from Forney, Texas. “I had no idea what was going on until the police officer and assailant ran past me.”

As the police officer caught up to the suspect, a scuffle ensued. According to Parsons, the assailant was attempting to grab the police officer’s weapon. This is when Parsons knew he had to take action.

“I saw that the cop was outsized, and that the assailant was trying to disarm him” added Parsons. “He was making threats against the officer’s life. I just knew that if I didn’t intervene something bad was going to happen.”

Running from his residence and through an irrigation ditch, Parsons successfully apprehended the assailant.  

“After apprehending the assailant a representative from the Mayor Elizabeth City called me right away. I knew they were trying to coordinate a way to recognize me, but I was just trying to help out,” said Parsons downplaying his actions.

Elizabeth City Mayor Bettie J. Parker, awarded Parsons with a Mayoral Certificate of Appreciation during the city council meeting on Nov. 12. The citation states, “In recognition of your selflessness and unwavering bravery in aiding the Elizabeth City Police Department.”

When asked how the police office responded for lending a hand, Parsons proudly recalled, “He said thank you for saving my life.”

“I am not surprised that he did what he did,” said Cmdr. Steve Yargosz, HSC-9’s commanding officer. “AWS1 Parsons truly represents what we look for in every Sailor. The willingness to take the initiative, the toughness to take on difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous tasks. As a rescue swimmer he is accountable for not only the lives of those he flies with but the lives of many of his fellow Sailors and on a daily basis he embodies the rescue swimmer ethos of ‘So Others May Live’.”

HSC-9 employs the MH-60S in a variety of missions to include: Anti-Surface Warfare, Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Maritime Interdiction Operations, Helicopter Visit Board Search and Seizure, Anti-Terrorism Force Protection, Personnel Recovery, Combat Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue, Plane Guard, Special Operations, Medical Evacuation, Non-Combatant Evacuation, Vertical Replenishment, and Disaster Relief.