Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Clay | 170331-N-UX013-225 PORTSMOUTH, Va. (March 31, 2017)-Cmdr. Joseph Nellis pins the...... read more read more
by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jonathan Clay, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (March 31, 2017) -- A senior chief petty officer from Surface Warfare Medical Institute (SWMI) East received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal during his retirement ceremony March 31 at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Thomas H. Gentry III received the medal, the highest non-combat decoration for heroism by the U.S Department of the Navy, for his actions after witnessing a car accident, May 2016.
While commuting home during rush hour on a busy Virginia interstate, Gentry observed a disabled vehicle and chose to offer assistance. Before he could dismount his motorcycle, he witnessed the vehicle get struck from behind by a full-size pickup, crushing the rear end of the compact vehicle and projecting it forward into a city bus, where it caught fire.
Despite the immediate danger to himself, he courageously took action, braving the flames to help the passengers trapped inside the wreckage. After assisting the front seat passenger, he entered the interior of the burning vehicle to rescue the unconscious driver, cutting away the seatbelt that had trapped her inside.
Having safely removed the unconscious driver from the vehicle, Gentry initiated on-scene resuscitation until emergency medical services personnel arrived several minutes later.
“I didn’t think about the decision until after the fact,” said Gentry when reflecting on the event. “It was very dangerous, and the car could have blown up.”
The Navy and Marine Corps Medal falls in order of precedence just below the Distinguished Flying Cross and above the Bronze Star. To win this award, there must be an evident act of heroism when there is very specific life-threatening risk to the award recipient.
“Every time that I look at the award it will remind me of selfless sacrifice and that I was able to actually help a family in need,” said Gentry.
After receiving the award Gentry shared advice to fellow Sailors.
“Be mindful of the decisions you make,” said Gentry. “If you can do anything, do something. It’s what you should do as a human being.”
Gentry enlisted in the Navy in 1993. He served in three tours of combat duty to Iraq and various commands including Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, 1st Force Service Support Group at Camp Pendleton, 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Wasp (LHD 1), and Surface Warfare Medical Institute East. He is a graduate from the Senior Enlisted Academy. His other personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards).
SWMI is a detachment of Navy Medicine Operational Training Center in Pensacola, Fla., the global leader in operational medicine, which supports multiple commands throughout the country in training for operational medicine and aviation survival.
For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.
For more news from NMOTC, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/NMOTC/.
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.06.2017 14:00 |
| Story ID: | 229400 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 522 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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