MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif -- Another routine duty station change for Petty Officer 2nd Class Geoff Hunley took him from Washington to California, but the commercial flight turned into a lifesaving challenge testing his emergency medical technician and Navy corpsman skills.
The corpsman swooped into action hours prior to checking in with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161, known as the “Greyhawks,” May 4.
Hunley was on his way to San Diego’s Lindbergh Field airport from Washington state when a woman seated near him on the airplane had a medical emergency.
“She was unconscious and having difficulty breathing,” said Hunley. “I did a blood sugar test and some neurological exams to help identify what was wrong.”
The woman had gone into diabetic shock. Using skills he learned while serving as an emergency medical technician, the 23-year old managed to stabilize the woman using only items available on the aircraft.
After the plane landed, the woman was transported to a local medical facility, explained Hunley.
Hunley, who is preparing for his third deployment, had recently been serving as a lead petty officer at Naval Hospital Bremerton, Wash.
“He’s always been a stellar performer,” said Chief Petty Officer Robert Ripps, the medical services directorate leading chief. “It’s not surprising he took charge of the situation and did what he did on that plane. He was the leading petty officer of a busy emergency department while he was here and he did an excellent job.”
The Dalles, Wash., native always knew he wanted to help save lives.
“I had an uncle who was a Marine and I knew I wanted to do something like that, but I wanted to work in the medical field,” said Hunley. “So I became a corpsman.”
He left for boot camp in September 2003 and graduated later that year. Afterward, he attended Field Medical Service School at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
During his previous two deployments, Hunley served in several parts of Iraq including Fallujah, Ramadi and Baghdad.
While serving with a Military Transition Team, he saved the lives of Marines after an improvised explosive device rocked their convoy. Though one of the Marines was killed by the blast, Hunley’s quick thinking managed to save the lives of the vehicle’s other three passengers. When a tourniquet he set wouldn’t hold, he pinched an artery of a wounded Marine in order to save the Marine’s life.
For his actions Hunley received a Navy Commendation Medal and a letter from Adm. Mike Mullen, the then chief of naval operations.
Currently, Hunley plans to deploy and eventually return to his parent command at NH Bremerton and hopes to be accepted into Independent Corpsman School and return to serve with the Marine Corps.