Darkhorse Marine from Tampa part of life saving team

Darkhorse Marines’ initiative, training saves man twice from brink of death
DVIDS
1st Marine Division
Sgt. Alfred V. Lopez
July 15, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Late in the afternoon of June 18, Cpl. Matthew Mistretta, Lance Cpl. Cory Lucas, and Cpl. Philip Chronis were heading home from work, and Paul Atkins was released early from his shift at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif.

On what seemed like an ordinary day, their paths crossed at the intersection of El Camino Real in San Clemente, Calif., where they came together without hesitation to save the life of Ervin Hall.

Hall, a 66-year-old former Navy pilot, was driving to his home in Dana Point, Calif., when he crashed into a light pole on the intersection.

“Something in the steering wheel locked up. That’s all I remember from the accident. The next thing I know, I woke up in the hospital,” Hall said.

Atkins, a registered nurse at Mission Hospital, and his wife were stopped at the intersection’s traffic light when they heard a loud crash.

Chronis, a squad leader with Weapons Co. and a Tampa, Fla., native, was also driving toward the intersection when he recognized his fellow Marine pulling Hall out of the crash. Without hesitation, he blocked off traffic with his truck and rushed to help Atkins and Mistretta.
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