Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Sarah D. Clark, from Anadarko, Oklahoma, was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM) in a ceremony held March 3.

Clark, assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, was awarded the medal after assisting a young woman in distress at the base commissary.

She was shopping for groceries when she noticed a group gathering around a patron.

"She (the civilian patron) was on the floor seizing," said Clark. "All the people around her were shouting to help her and no one was stepping up to help, so I rushed in to help because I knew what to do."

Clark took charge of the situation and administered lifesaving medical care. She directed others to call 911 as she began administering lifesaving efforts.

Clark credited the Navy training she received as an influence on her calm demeanor and leadership during the emergency situation.

"It's important to know what to do if you ever find yourself in that situation," said Clark. "That would be (in this specific situation) to remain calm and to roll the victim on their side to ensure they don't hurt themselves further, while directing other people to contact emergency services."

The emergency response team arrived and transported the patron to a medical facility.

DESRON 15 is comprised of eight Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

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