Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class STEVEN HOSKINS | 190612-N-LW591-007 GROTON, Conn. (June. 12, 2019) Navy Diver 2nd Class Thomas Parhiala...... read more read more
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GROTON, Conn. -- Two Navy Divers from Naval Submarine Support Facility New London (NSSF), received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Wednesday, May 12, at the Dealey Center Theater aboard Naval Submarine Base New London.
Navy Diver 2nd Class John McLeod and Navy Diver 2nd Class Thomas Parhiala received the medals, the highest non-combat decoration for heroism, for their actions after diving into a pond to save a motorist on March 23, 2018.
McLeod and Parhiala were traveling northbound on route 17 near Rockport, Maine when they witnessed an oncoming vehicle swerve across their lane, causing the vehicle to become airborne and landing 40 feet into the partially frozen Chickawausee Pond.
The two Divers immediately took swift action. They made their way down the adjacent embankment and swam to the vehicle and found the driver unconscious in between the front and back seats.
They then removed the man from the vehicle as it was rapidly filling with water and sinking.
After safely removing the survivor from the wreckage, McLeod swam him safely back to shore while Parhiala stayed behind to verify that no other passengers were inside. Upon reaching the shore, McLeod directed nearby pedestrians to call 911 and quickly began to assess the survivor's injuries. Once Parhiala verified there were no other passengers, he swam back to shore to help McLeod carry the survivor up the embankment. McLeod and Parhiala then began attempts to rewarm and monitor the victim's conditions until properly relieved by paramedics.
Vice Adm. Charles "Chas" Richard, Commander, Submarine Forces, spoke during the ceremony before presenting the award.
“I am so proud that the Navy has chosen to award you this medal, but beyond that I want all of us to take away the fact that this is the example that we should all line up to,” said Richard. “This is the standard; this is the character; this is the bravery; these two man have just shown us exactly what that is supposed to look like.”
McLeod and Parhiala were both shocked to be honored with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
“I don’t feel like I deserve it because diving is what I do for work,” said McLeod. “I just did what I had to do when the opportunity presented itself.”
McLeod reflected on what the award symbolizes. “It’s a great honor and I know that it’s bigger than me.”
Parhiala said the biggest challenge during the rescue was staying warm, but everything else was routine of a Navy Diver.
“I’m just honored,” said Parhiala. “I just looked at what had to be done and did it.”
Master Diver Joe Cannon was their supervisor when the two divers made the rescue.
“The award was well deserved,” said Cannon. “I couldn’t be more proud for either one of them and I’m proud of the entire opportunity to have been the NSSF’s Master Diver for 4 years at that locker. They made my job incredibly easy; the level of dedication, professionalism and Navy Core Values was a stunning experience.”
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2019 08:32 |
| Story ID: | 327099 |
| Location: | GROTON, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Web Views: | 2,738 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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