Contributed photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Parady
NORWAY — Col. Dwaine Drummond, commander of the 52nd Troop Command, presented Sgt. 1st Class Joshua D. Way with a Meritorious Service Medal for his actions in saving a child’s life, at a ceremony March 6 at the Norway Armory.
On Oct. 11, 2015, members from a local church were attending financial education training at the Norway Armory when 6-year-old Nathan Curtis became unresponsive and stopped breathing. Way quickly responded by performing CPR on the child while Way’s wife dialed 9-1-1. Way was able to bring the boy back to consciousness and kept everyone calm until an ambulance would arrive approximately 10 minutes later.
Way grew up in Houlton and is the son of Vicki Sawyer-Goodall and Thom Goodall of Littleton. Way graduated from Hodgdon High School in 2005.
When Way initially told the father that he was trained, and took the boy to assess the situation, his heart sank.
“Nathan had no pulse, there was no rise and fall of the chest, and his lips had turned blue from lack of oxygen,” said Way. After checking to make sure the airway was clear, Way began to administer CPR, a skill he had learned while a member of the 11th Weapons of Mass Destruction- Civil Support Team, Maine Army National Guard.
Now a full-time member of the 251st Engineer Company in Norway, Way’s military training had provided him with many opportunities to treat fellow Soldiers, but never children.
“I just kept thinking ‘Please, Lord, help this kid,’” said Way.
During the third round of rescue breaths, the boy opened his eyes. At this time, the boy was breathing on his own, but it was very shallow, and Way and the boy’s mother sat with him to keep him awake until the ambulance could arrive.
Way immediately went back to his unit the next week and reached out to his chain of command, pleading with them, asking them for additional lifesaving training for at least the full-time staff.
He emphasized, “I believe that it is important that all full-time staff are trained in CPR, and eventually all Soldiers. I personally learned very quickly that you never know when things are going to happen, and as Soldiers we are looked to by others as always having the answer in the time of need and being prepared to respond during an emergency. I believe this is truly important, and could determine life or death for someone.”
Leadership for the 133rd Engineer Battalion, 52nd Troop Command, and the Maine National Guard Safety Office listened to Way’s request. The Battalion has put a stronger emphasis on CPR and other lifesaving training so that more Soldiers would be able to respond to emergencies like this and make a difference.
During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Doug Farnham, the Adjutant General for the Maine National Guard spoke of the qualities and values the Soldier was able to call on during this traumatic event.
“As a man of strong conviction and capability, Sgt. 1st Class Way responded quickly to an unknown situation, using his training to save a child’s life and keep bystanders calm. These actions exemplify the National Guard mantra of ‘always ready, always there’.”
The meritorious service medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to Jan. 16, 1969.
