Kadena Airman saves life of Okinawan boy

Published Nov. 1, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- It was a typical afternoon at the beach for Richard Howell and his family -- until he heard a desperate voice call out from the water. At first, Howell dismissed the Japanese voice as outside conversation, but then he realized his family was the only one still at the beach.

As he got closer to the water, he noticed a man waving one arm for help while holding up a boy with the other. The senior airman knew then that they were in trouble and quickly swam out to help. When Howell reached the man, he saw how grave the boy's condition was.

"The boy's body was limp, and he had white foam around his mouth," explained the senior airman from the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron. "The whole time, the father was pounding his fist into the boy's back, screaming what I can only imagine was 'Don't die!'"

Airman Howell and the boy's father together carried the boy back to shore. That's when the Airman's self-aid and buddy care training kicked in.

"When we got to shore, I put the boy on his back and immediately started ABC -- Airway, Breathing and Circulation -- but he was completely unresponsive," said Airman Howell.

When he put his ear to the boy's chest, he noticed the boy was breathing, but it was extremely shallow. Although Airman Howell had no real medical training, he decided to perform CPR.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which involves chest compressions, and may also include artificial respiration, with the rescuer exhaling air into an individual's mouth.

After a few breaths, Airman Howell determined the boy was breathing more normally, and so put him in a recovery position. While the boy never spit up any water from his lungs, he began to blink as he slowly regained consciousness.

Not long after, local paramedics arrived and escorted the boy to an ambulance. Before leaving with them, the father came back to talk to Airman Howell.

"The father came to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Thank you,'" Airman Howell recounted. "After they left, I sat out on a rock in the water for a few minutes, holding back tears thinking about what just happened."

Not long after the incident, the boy, Tatsuki, sent a thank-you letter to Airman Howell. In addition, Tatsuki's grandmother wrote:

"Dear our hero, thank you for your great support. Without your rescue, Tatsuki would not be here today. He is very lucky, and we are grateful for everything you have done for us. Please enjoy your life here in Okinawa and please keep in touch with us."

For his heroic actions, Airman Howell was presented a certificate of appreciation from the chief of police Nov. 1 at the Kadena Town Police Station.