Alaska National Guardsman saves youth at Elmendorf Pool Published Oct. 28, 2010 By Pfc. Karina Paraoan AKARNG PAO JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- National Guardsmen are well known for their willingness to help others at any place or time. For one young boy at the Elmendorf Fitness Center, that willingness to help may have saved his life Sept. 29. Senior Airman Ferdie Villaflores, an Alaska Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 176th Operations Support Squadron, dove into action when he saw a 12-year-old boy lying semi-conscious at the bottom of the pool at the Elmendorf Fitness Center during an open swim session. "I was on the side of the pool talking to a friend that I haven't seen in a long time," said Villaflores. "That's when I saw one of the lifeguards standing up pointing at something in the middle of the pool." Villaflores spotted a small body lying at the bottom of the pool and immediately dove down as deep as he could to grab him. As soon as he got hold of the boy, he swam up and helped him onto the pool's deck. "The only thing that was running through my mind was that I needed to get him out of the water as soon as possible," said Senior Airman Villaflores. The youth had difficulty breathing and with the assistance of the on-duty lifeguard, Senior Airman Villaflores ensured that his airway was open. When he finally saw that the boy had regained full consciousness, he left the scene. "I'm proud of him," said Senior Master Sgt. Douglas Echternacht, 176th Wing. "It may not be in our job description to save people from drowning, but I know I can expect him and other members of the Alaska Air National Guard to respond the way he did." Senior Airman Villaflores, who spends a lot of his time at the Elmendorf pool, said he is really happy that he was there that Wednesday night. "I left after I saw the boy was okay," he said. "I didn't want to seem like the big hero because all that mattered to me is the boy lived."