On September 15, 2023, U.S. Navy Petty Officer third Class Clay Campbell, a corpsman with second battalion, eighth Marine Regiment, second Marine Division, and a Clearwater, Florida native, was acknowledged and awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his excellent bravery whereas on liberty.
Campbell was out with pals at Wrightsville Seashore, North Carolina, throughout Independence Day weekend when he observed one thing uncommon.
“We have been out within the water after I observed a lady behaving unusually,” Campbell defined. “She started fluttering and lifting her arm as if pumping her fist.”
Campbell rapidly acknowledged the girl was having a seizure and rushed her to shore, the place he instantly started to carry out life-saving procedures.
“I wasn’t considering, I used to be simply reacting,” stated Campbell. “I put her within the restoration place and did a modified jaw thrust maneuver.”
After what felt like a lifetime, emergency companies arrived to take the girl to a neighborhood hospital. Campbell was grateful for his coaching as a corpsman that day, which allowed him to keep up his composure and supply support to the younger girl, in the end saving her life.
“I am grateful for the talents that I’ve realized,” stated Campbell. “You by no means know when they are going to come in useful.”
Campbell’s dedication and power of service is exemplified by his heroic actions on that summer season day. His fast response and professionalism go above and past the decision of obligation, demonstrating his initiative and experience as a corpsman.
“He is grown exponentially properly along with his tactical and medical medical expertise,” stated Petty Officer 1st Class Derek Summers, a corpsman with second Battalion, eighth Marine Regiment, second Marine Division. “He’s at all times prepared to take that initiative each time essential.”