Lifesaving Airman, patient meet for first time

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Gustavo Gonzalez
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) --  A local South Korean woman and the Kunsan Air Base Airman whose blood donation saved her life met for the first time when she visited here Nov. 21.

Airman Tamarias Pope of the 8th Security Forces Squadron met up with 22-year-old You Jin Pak, allowing the 19-year-old Airman to put a face to the person his lifesaving donation reached.

"Meeting her was a really good experience," Airman Pope said. "Most people that give blood don't really get to meet the person that they saved. She looked healthy. She looked happy. That made me happy."

Airman Pope's role in helping Ms. Pak began Oct. 8 when Dr. Sung Kwang Park from the Chonbuk University Hospital in Jeonju, South Korea, called the 8th Medical Group here. Dr. Park had a patient in his care suffering from acute myeloid leukemia. She had recently undergone a bone marrow transplant and was in urgent need of blood.

"Ms. Pak was in dire need of a blood transfusion," said Capt. Kevin Blackney, assigned to the 8th Medical Group. "She had a rare blood type among the Korean population that was more common among Americans."

After conducting a search of the wing's medical records, Airman Pope was the first person identified with the matching blood type. Calls were made to Airman Pope's squadron who contacted the Airman at his dorm room. At the time, Airman Pope was off duty and sleeping but still quickly returned Captain Blackney's call.

"He called back and within about five hours of his phone call he was up and donating blood at the Chonbuk University Hospital," the captain said.

The first meeting between patient and Samaritan took place at the 8th SFS headquarters. Customary greetings and bows were exchanged as well as a more informal hug between two strangers whose lives became intertwined after a simple call for help.

Ms. Pak, her parents and Dr. Park were then given a quick tour of the base. They were shown around the security forces building before heading to an entry control point where Airman Pope explained some of his daily duties. The next stop on the tour was the 35th Fighter Squadron where Ms. Pak was fitted with a flight suit and jacket. The tour ended with a visit to the flightline where she got to see an F-16 Fighting Falcon up close and got to climb into the aircraft.

"I had a lot of fun," Ms. Pak said. "It was thrilling experience for me to visit the air base. When I was in the cockpit, I wanted to fly."

Before leaving the base, the party headed over to the 8th Fighter Wing Headquarters where they were met by Col. J.D. Harris, the 8th Fighter Wing commander, and Col. Pete Gersten, the 8th Operations Group commander.

"It's rare when someone donating blood gets to meet who they actually give it to," Colonel Harris said. "The entire Kunsan community came together both on the air base and downtown to make this happen.

Both Airman Pope and Ms. Pak received commander's coins from Colonel Harris who commented that Airman Pope's selfless act was not rare in the Air Force.

"I've seen this from Airmen for more than a decade and I'm proud to be serving with them, side by side," he said. 

Dr. Park also had plaques for Airman Pope and Captain Blackney to thank them for their help in saving the young woman's life.

Ms. Pak's visit to the base ended as it began, with bows and hugs, but also with a new friendship blossoming between one young South Korean woman and one young American Airman.

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