U.S. troops in Japan rescue man from fiery crash

U.S. troops in Japan rescue man from fiery crash
By T.D. Flack, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, August 29, 2009
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — U.S. troops from Misawa say they were simply acting on instinct when they rushed toward a fiery car crash on a dark country road Aug. 15 to save an unconscious Japanese man.

"I was just doing what I would want someone to do for me if I was in that guy’s spot," said Senior Airman Thomas Sullivan, who works with the 35th Medical Support Squadron.

Sullivan, Airman 1st Class Justin Bunton, a firefighter, and Tech Sgt. Rory Stark, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist, braved the heat of the fire to carry the man to safety, according to base and Japanese officials.

They were part of a group of about 30 airmen returning from a trip on a base tour bus when they came upon what Sullivan first thought was a "big bonfire" next to some Japanese homes along the road.

When they realized that it was the scene of a car crash — and that there was a man lying on the road next to a car and garage engulfed in flames — they stopped the bus to help. About five or six other airmen — including Airman 1st Class Aaron Lauer, with the 35th Maintenance Operations Squadron — also ran from the bus to help.
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