What’s INSIDE
JBPHH takes on Alpha Warrior Battle Rig See page B-1
October 12, 2018
Are you prepared for the flu? Get your flu shot! See page B-2
747 CS Marauders prevail over WSA See page B-3
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Volume 9 Issue 40
JBPHH celebrates
Command Master Chief Allen Keller, command master chief of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH); Col. Douglas E. Pierce, JBPHH deputy commander; and Cmdr. Blaine Pitkin, JBPHH operations officer, cut the Navy 243rd Birthday cake at the Silver Dolphin Bistro, Oct. 10. Photo by MC2 Charles Oki
anniversary, US Navy birthday
Jim Neuman Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs Today, Commander Navy Region Hawaii and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam hosted a bell-ringing ceremony to mark the Navy’s 243rd birthday at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument Visitor Center. The keynote speaker was Capt. Jeff Bernard, the commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. This
year’s theme is “Forged by the Sea.” The USS Arizona bell was rung nine times to mark the changing of the watch and the beginning of the Navy’s 243rd year. The ceremony will also include a special cake cutting ceremony and a performance by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band. The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy. A Oct. 13, 1775 resolution of the Continental Congress established what is now the United States Navy with “a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a propor-
tionable number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all possible despatch, for a cruise of three months....” After the American War of Independence, the U.S. Constitution empowered the new Congress “to provide and maintain a navy.” Acting on this authority, Congress established the Department of the Navy on 30 April 1798. In 1972 Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized recognition of Oct. 13 as the Navy’s birthday encouraging a Navy-wide cel-
ebration of this occasion “to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.” For more information on the Navy’s 243rd birthday visit https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/commemorations-toolkits/navy-birthday.html. The CNO/MCPON 243rd Birthday message can be found at: https://www. dvidshub.net/video/631590/243rd-navy-birthday-message-cno-and-mcpon.
Rendering life-saving aid on the taxiway Story and photo by 2nd Lt. Colin Kennard III Marine Expeditionary Force MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII — Sitting on a plane waiting to depart out of Los Angeles International Airport, Hospital Corpsman Second Class Jephray Prejusa didn’t have much on his mind other than taking a nap. While still waiting to take-off, his nap plans were interrupted by passengers shouting for help and requests for medical attention. Without hesitation, Prejusa sprang into action and raced up 12 rows to assess the situation. He found an elderly gentlemen in distress and began his primary assessment. Leveraging his training, he searched for a pulse and checked to see if the man was breathing. With no sign of a pulse or breathing, Prejusa took charge and directed the flight staff to bring an automated external defribillator (AED), oxygen and to call EMS. As he prepped the AED for the unresponsive man, he instructed the passenger behind him to hold his head and jaw, to prevent the man from choking. Knowing that every second matters during cardiac arrest, Prejusa didn’t waste any time trying to revive the struggling passenger. Just before he was going to press the button on the AED — which would have sent a shock through the man’s body jolting his heart back to life — Prejusa found a weak and rapid pulse. With the oxygen applied, the unresponsive man began breathing, and now with a pulse, there was no need to employ the AED. Prejusa, an aeromedical safety corpsman with Marine Aircraft Group 24, rendered aid to a 79 year-old man struggling for life Aug. 4. A nine-year veteran with experience in combat trauma facilities in Afghanistan, Prejusa didn’t think twice about getting out of his seat to assist a fellow passenger.
Veterans Talk Story HM2 Jephray Prejusa Aeromedical safety corpsman with Marine Aircraft Group 24 “I guess my training just kicked in,” said the Grand Prairie, Texas native. He automatically kicked into gear as a life-saver and began a basic primary assessment “that every corpsman is trained to do when you arrive on scene.” Working at an aircraft group, Prejusa is very familiar with the effects of hypoxia, a lack of oxygen in the blood. According to Prejusa, because of the pressurized cabin, blood oxygen saturation normally goes down about four percent. In this case, he suspected it went down much further than the normal decline. U.S. Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Alfredo Del Haro, logistics chief, Marine Forces Pacific was on the same flight as Prejusa and witnessed the event. “His actions that morning reflect what we expect from service members
Photo courtesy of HM2 Jephray Prejusa
HM2 Jephray Prejusa of Marine Aircraft Group 24 was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions. and what many outside of the service don’t understand. We are willing to take charge while others may remain seated or pull their phones out,” Del Haro said. After his patient regained consciousness, Prejusa lifted the man out of his seat into a wheelchair and took him into the airport terminal where emergency medical staff were waiting. He conducted his turnover with medical staff, and then went and sat down at another gate with the rest of the deboarded passengers, as if nothing extraordinary had happened. HM2 Prejusa didn’t consider his actions memorable, let alone heroic. To him, he simply used his training and responded to someone in need — what he has always done as a hospital
corpsman. The other passengers on that flight thought differently. “His actions were a clear indication that he was trained and either was a first responder or service member,” said Del Haro. When he returned to Hawaii, his fellow service members and superiors were proud, although not surprised, of Prejusa’s actions. “I was not surprised that he stepped in and stepped up to save someone’s life and intervene when it was needed. That’s how he performs at work and it’s what’s expected of our medics,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Constance Ramsburg, aeromedical safety officer, MAG-24. On Sept. 25, Prejusa received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions.