Florida Guard Soldiers rescue family during Hurricane Isaias response

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Eight Florida Army National Guard Soldiers worked together to rescue four family members from a sinking pickup truck beside an Interstate 10 off-ramp during the Hurricane Isaias Response on Oct. 10.

The Soldiers, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and Delta Battery, 3rd Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, encountered the emergency while traveling in a convoy during a hurricane response activation. After a morning fuel stop, the convoy approached the interstate and passed a partially submerged pickup beside the ramp.

At first, they believed the truck had been abandoned following Hurricane Isaias, until they saw an arm waving from the window. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery’s Staff Sgt. Jordan Blair, Sgt. Jonathan Russell, and Staff Sgt. Jose Collazo, all air and missile defense crewmembers, and Spc. Tanner Norris, a signal operations support specialist, were the first to stop. Joining them were Delta Battery’s Sgt. David Vrban, Spc. Adrian Hamilton, Sgt. Terrance Martin, all wheeled-vehicle mechanics, and Sgt. Patrick O’Berry, a utilities equipment repairer.

As Blair called 911, the other Soldiers worked together and rushed to free the family from the sinking pickup. “We didn’t have to talk about it; it just happened,” said O’Berry. While one Soldier pulled the driver through a broken window, Russell braced his feet against the truck and forced a door open as Hamilton tried to stabilize the vehicle from the rear bumper. Within a few minutes, the team safely brought the driver, his wife, teenage son, and mother-in-law ashore.

With all four occupants out of the water, Vrban, a former firefighter and paramedic, assessed them for injuries and spoke with the family about any medical concerns. While Blair stayed on the phone, the batteries flagged down a passing police officer, who stopped to assist. The Soldiers stayed at the scene until additional law enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol personnel, firefighters, and emergency medical responders arrived and took over care of the family; they remained available to provide information and assistance before continuing on their route.

The Soldiers from both batteries brought civilian experience in law enforcement, nursing, and emergency medical services to the rescue, complementing their military training as they freed the family and provided care on shore.

Reflecting on the family’s gratitude, the Soldiers described the importance of working together when lives were at stake, using their combined skills to serve the community. For Hamilton, the response reflected the preparation behind his service. “This is what I trained to be,” Hamilton said. For O’Berry, the rescue reflected a commitment to “be there for our communities” and “help them out when they need it.” “We’re always ready for anything, said Coroso, “always on guard with what I need to do as a service member.”