Soldier carries man to safety

By Spc. Brianna Kearney, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment—

During the height of winter storm Jonas, as inches upon inches of snow fell, soldiers across the state of Maryland were in place and ready to help out the communities and people endangered by the blizzard. Spc. Paul Pinder, of F Co., 128th Brigade Support Battalion, was activated and deployed with members of his unit to support the Maryland State Police Department. Their role was to assist the police during emergency calls by enabling them to reach the residents of Maryland.

At home, Pinder’s girlfriend is eight months pregnant, but he came out with his unit because, “I wanted to help people,” Pinder said.

One of the calls that came into the police department was an older man who lost heat and power in his house. He was requesting help to get him from his house to his son’s house.

Pinder was in charge of the mission.

When he got to the street the man lived on, he realized it had not been plowed at all. The Humvee would have difficulties traveling down this particular street. Placing the mission first, Pinder trekked through the deep snow and found his way to the man’s house.

“He flagged me down with a light,” Pinder said. “I went up to him and he was shivering, so I gave him my cap, gloves, and jacket to stay warm.”

The man was unable to walk through the unplowed street. Pinder then decided to carry the man from his house to the vehicle. They were trying to stay positive through the storm together.

“We were encouraging each other the whole walk down,” Pinder said.

Pinder completed this mission by helping the man safely get to his son’s house. He said it made coming out in the storm worth it to help people stay safe and better the communities of Maryland.

“Maybe when my son gets here, I can tell him about how I helped somebody and he’ll be proud of his dad,” Pinder said.