Pacific edition, Thursday, March 20, 2008

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — A Camp Carroll soldier credited with saving the life of a severely injured South Korean youngster last fall was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions, according to an Army news release.

Sgt. Jeffrey P. Bowling of the 498th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion was presented the medal in a ceremony Tuesday at Camp Carroll by Brig. Gen. Xavier P. Lobeto, commander of the 19th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).

Bowling earned the medal for his actions Sept. 30 when, during a day off, he went to a go-cart track off post with two buddies, Sgt. Jason R. Laub and Sgt. Wayne E. Turner.

The release said Bowling became aware that an 8-year-old boy had just had an accident that tore off his arm below the elbow. When Bowling and his buddies reached the boy, they saw that he’d already lost a lot of blood.

Bowling used his belt as a tourniquet and tied off the boy’s arm at the elbow, the news release said.

He then gave the boy further aid and sought to comfort him and his family until an ambulance arrived, at which point he helped the emergency crews get the boy aboard.

In what the news release characterized as Bowling’s humility, he did not “boast about his heroic act.”

But the Army eventually learned of it “and decided to recognize his exceptionally meritorious behavior,” the release said.

“I have kids and hope that someone would help my kids if they were in the same situation,” Bowling was quoted as saying.

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