Soldier Saves Man from Drowning

By Sgt. Jordan E. Werme
130th PAD, Connecticut National Guard

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Dec. 5, 2006 — When Sgt. Kristi J. Artigue joined the Connecticut Army National Guard the summer before her senior year of high school, it was a chance to broaden her experiences.

"I've always been a risk taker," said Artigue, 23, now a medic with the 141st Medical Company.

On Nov. 10, Artigue called upon the skills learned during her six years of National Guard service -- including a recent deployment to Iraq -- to help save the life of a man who may have drowned.

"I was passing by (Supersonic Car Wash, West Haven ) after work when I saw my boyfriend's car,” said Artigue. "I called him to say 'Hi', and he told me someone had had a seizure and fallen into the water."

Her first reaction: call 911. Artigue told her boyfriend that he should call for emergency services, but because of the urgent tone of his voice, she pulled out of rush-hour traffic in New Haven and rushed to the scene.

When Artigue arrived, she found a group of people hanging onto the shore and forming a “chain,” trying to keep a man above the fast-moving water. Read the whole article.

V/R
U.S. Central Command
Public Affairs
Capt. Anthony Deiss
Spc. Patrick Ziegler
Spc. Chris Erickson.