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1/8 Marines put life saving skills to use

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 2004112744754
Story by Cpl. Randy L. Bernard

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 26, 2004) -- The Marine Corps has become known as America's 9-1-1 force for their ability to respond to crises around the globe.

Two Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, have epitomized this role locally by providing aid to a member of the Iraqi National Guard. The Marines were helping the ING build a base camp here when a commotion stirred through the camp.

"We heard 'Corpsman up!' and I figured someone was hurt," said Lance Cpl. Phil D. Barker, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1/8. "They said that they didn't have a corpsman, and I said that I am a combat lifesaver, so I went over there."

Marines are trained in first aid beginning in boot camp. The knowledge of saving lives is vital to the mission and is reinforced again and again through classes. To become a combat lifesaver, Marines are trained in more in-depth skills to provide self-aid and buddy-aid when a corpsman is not available.

"Once we had heard them call for a corpsman, Barker and me went over there," said Lance Cpl. Karl M. Krebsbach, a rifleman with 1st Platoon. "We saw the ING around the Iraqi that was passed out, so we moved them away so that he could have more space.

"His pupils were like pinpricks and his breathing was shallow so we (checked his airway breathing and circulation). His eyes started to roll back in his head, and his extremities were getting cold so Barker and I started CPR."

According to the Marines, the Iraqi had been suffering from the early stages of shock before he passed out. The stresses of being in a combat zone and manual labor took its toll on the Iraqi.

"Once we had given him a few sets of CPR, he started taking gasps on his own and his pulse went up a little," said Krebsbach, 22, from Stacyville, Iowa. "We tried using pressure points to see if he would respond, but he was still out of it."

The two Marines continued to give the Iraqi CPR and rescue breathing for over half an hour until the ambulance arrived. Their immediate reaction to the situation showed their instant willingness to help another.

"In boot camp they teach you to respond as fast as you can, and as a combat lifesaver I knew what I had to do and I did it," said Barker.

Although Barker had completed the combat lifesaver's course, Krebsbach credited childhood punishment to his first-aid skills.

"My mom is a nurse with the Mayo Clinic," said Krebsbach, "when I got grounded she had this big 2000 page book that I would have to read and learn from. She would be really proud of me that I saved someone's life, especially someone that wasn't a Marine."

Marine's operating in Iraq train side-by-side with the Iraqis to strengthen the defense of Iraq, and build up a force to one day protect the country from terrorism and insurgent attacks.

"We are all friends out here," said Barker, 19, from Londonderry, N.H. "Everyone is fighting for the same reason, we are on the same team."

The Iraqi recovered and the other members of the ING thanked Barker and Krebsbach for their help in saving one of their own.

"It feels pretty good to do something like that," said Krebsbach, "The Iraqi's were all happy and thanked us and said we did a good job."