| Truckers Awarded Army Achievement Medals |
196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Submitted June 11, 2008 CAMP GRAYLING, Mich.—The treadmarks of a 5-ton truck paved the way to Annual Training 2008 when a convoy from Stow, Ohio, turned into a fight for survival June 3 for two truckers from the Ohio Army National Guard. Sgts. James E. Derlich and Jason Head, trainers and evaluators with the Premobilization Training Assistance Element, were traveling to Camp Grayling, Mich., for their annual training in support of the PTAE, a unit that trains Soldiers readying for deployment on warrior tasks and skills. Camp Grayling was a mere 42 miles ahead when the driver’s-side tire of his 5-ton truck erupted, Derlich said. The truck immediately swerved from the right lane to the left, its steering wheel locked tightly. Head struggled to maintain control of the truck as it approached a steep embankment. His assistant driver, Derlich, had experienced accidents of this magnitude in his many years of driving rigs prior to his enlistment. He knew that if the 5-ton flipped or skidded into the embankment, the sensitive equipment on board, including weapons, would be damaged. He also knew that the accident could be fatal for Head, himself and other Soldiers traveling in the nearly 60-vehicle convoy to Michigan. Derlich reacted quickly, jumping over the console to assist Head in regaining control of the vehicle. Together, Head and Derlich were able to steer back into the right lane and then off to the side of the road. A team of mechanics was then able to change the tire and the truckers continued the mission. What could have been a catastrophic accident is now being used as a lesson to other Ohio National Guard Soldiers at Camp Grayling. In fact, all subsequent Ohio Army National Guard officers and noncommissioned officers to arrive at the camp were briefed on the event as an example of good safety procedures. “Stay alert, safety is first,” Derlich said. Head and Derlich received Army Achievement Medals June 8 at Camp Grayling for exercising good judgment and avoiding a potentially catastrophic accident. -30- |
