Misawa Airmen rescue Japanese citizen Published Aug. 28, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- Eight Airmen from Misawa AB saved the life of a Japanese citizen Aug. 15 when they pulled him away from a house and car that were engulfed in flames. The Airmen and their families were on a bus returning from a night of celebrating a child's birthday and bidding farewell to a fellow Airman. Approximately 15 minutes into their return trip, they noticed a car buried in a house and the wreckage aflame. Through the inferno they saw a motionless body was seen lying next to the burning car. Not willing to leave a person in such a state, the Airmen took action. These Airmen stabilized the man and prevented further injuries to a gathering crowd. "When we arrived at the scene of the accident, we heard someone say, there's a guy hurt out there," said Airman 1st Class Aaron Lauer, a 35th Maintenance Operations Squadron production analyst. "I and several others jumped off the bus and ran over to him. He was lying a few feet from the car, and we knew we had to get this guy away from it before it exploded. The car was extremely hot, and I remember it was hard to breathe." After pulling the limp victim to safety, Tech. Sgt. Rory Stark, a 35th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, and Senior Airman Thomas Sullivan, a 35th Medical Support Squadron shipping section supervisor, along with five other Airmen, put their Air Force training into practice. Together they determined the full extent of his injuries and rendered the appropriate life-saving techniques. "We checked his vitals and gave him a good look over," said Airman 1st Class Justin Bunton, a 35th CES firefighter. "He was breathing fine, but in a lot of pain and not moving very much. I held him still while (Sergeant) Stark and (Airman) Sullivan looked the guy over and kept him awake until the ambulance and fire department showed up." As the first team of life-savers remained with the man, Staff Sgt. Brian Johnson, a 35th CES operations manager, set up a perimeter which opened only when the ambulance and fire truck arrived. Staff Sgt. Anthony Germany, a 35th Maintenance Squadron avionics intermediate section production supervisor, and Senior Airman Mark Sundita, a 35th MXS stock pile surveillance and munitions inspector, added a helping hand to perimeter security. When the scene was in the hands of Japanese paramedics, the Airmen re-boarded the bus for the rest of their journey home. "The bus ride home was a somber one," Sergeant Germany said. "Everything was moving so quick, I think the training we received from the Air Force really came in handy. If I was lying next to a car injured, I would want people to stop and help me."