SAN DIEGO – Nebraska Army National Guard Sgt. Brittany West was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Joint Task Force North’s top leaders March 15 for saving a fellow service member’s life.
West — who is deployed to Joint Task Force North and assigned to Task Force Tomahawk in San Diego — was presented the award by Maj. Gen. Randall V. Simmons, JTFN commander, and Sgt. Maj. Kristopher L. Dyer, JTFN senior enlisted leader. Company A, 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment, conducted the ceremony at Campo Border Patrol Station in Pine Valley, California.
The medal is presented to U.S. Armed Forces members who distinguish themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States.
While conducting personal physical training with the 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment, West saw a fellow service member collapse while running and immediately leaped to his aid. West, who works as an emergency room nurse in her civilian job, determined he was non-responsive and did not have a detectable pulse. West called 911 on her mobile phone and began emergency lifesaving measures.
“When I came up to the scene, [West] was over him doing chest compressions; she was giving directives to the people standing around and had total control,” said Sheila LaFleur. “She was so, so strong and brought a sense of command to the situation.”
West maintained control of the crowd while providing CPR for the fallen service member for more than 20 minutes until first-responders arrived.
The injured man was taken by ambulance to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he arrived responsive and stable. He was released from the hospital Feb. 21.
When not working as an emergency room nurse, West also serves as a refueler in the Nebraska Army National Guard.