Citizen Airmen heroes breathe life into Service before Self Published Feb. 21, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Brenda Haines 910th Airlift Wing YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- A woman in her 60s pedals her bicycle along her frequently traveled route in Hartford on a crisp October afternoon. The sunlight bounces off the trees and the road glistens as the dotted center lines appear to merge. She is normally accompanied by her husband on these during afternoon bike rides, but on this day, she is alone. As she nears the entrance of a Sharon Speedway convenient store, she is approached by a jeans and T-shirt-clad man who asks her for directions, so she brings her bicycle to a halt. This man attacks her, knocking her from her bicycle and, while choking her, drags her limp body toward a nearby tree-line. Her attacker is unaware that off-duty Ohio State Highway Patrolman and U.S. Air Force Reservist Tech. Sgt. Jason Bonar is out for a ride on his Harley Davidson motorcycle and is about to turn down the seldom traveled country road. "I was just out for a nice drive," said Sergeant Bonar. "I had been working in the house that day. It was such a beautiful day." Sergeant Bonar, a 910th Security Forces combat arms instructor, said from about 400 feet away he saw an object in the road that he thought may have been a tree branch, but as he got closer, he realized it was a bicycle. "I started to slow down," he said. "I saw him first, then her. Her helmet was all askew on her head and the visor's broken ... I thought maybe she had crashed her bike and he was helping her. He started to take off toward his car and that's when she yelled 'Stop! He just tried to rape me.'" With 16 years of military training -- six in the Marine Corps and 10 with the 910th -- coupled with more than 10 years on-the-job experience as a patrolman, Sergeant Bonar said he went into action. "I just acted on impulse," he said. "I wasn't concerned for my own safety. I just kicked into trooper mode." Sergeant Bonar said the man got into his car and pulled away as he attempted to chase him, hitting the Reservist with his car. "I could have pursued him [on his motorcycle], but I didn't want to leave her," said Sergeant Bonar."She was obviously in shock." A few days later, the victim and her hero met to help local law enforcement compile a composite sketch of her alleged attacker. "She said she thought she took her last breath," said Sergeant Bonar. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time." Sergeant Bonar's heroism that day garnered community and base-wide recognition. "I think Sergeant Bonar's actions are a fine example of 'service before self', not just service to the 910th and the nation, but service to the community as well," said Col. Fritz Linsenmeyer, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing. Selfless acts are not uncommon at Youngstown Air Reserve Station. On Nov. 15, Tech. Sgt. Rick Lisum, photographer with the 910th AW and police officer with the Newton Falls Police, was on duty at the police department when he responded to a call. "My partner walked in first and immediately told me to get my [Automated External Defibrillator]," said Sergeant Lisum. "The subject was lying in the kitchen and was ashen in color. I went to the cruiser and retrieved the AED." When Sergeant Lisum returned to the home, his partner was performing chest compressions. "I began to ready the AED," he said. "Pads were placed on the subject ... and we waited for the AED to analyze. It told us to move away from the patient and initiate shock, which I did." The pair continued to administer chest compressions and AED shock until medical rescue crews arrived. As a police officer for 23 years and 910th AW Reservist for 16, Sergeant Lisum received numerous first aid, self-aid buddy care (SABC) and CPR classes although he said he has never put this education to the test. "We have only had the AEDs less than a year," he said. "This was first time anyone in our department got to use the AED to resuscitate someone. I am sure [the first aid, SABC and CPR] training aided greatly in what we did that day." Because he was able to utilize his training in a real-world situation, Sergeant Lisum said he gained confidence that can help prepare him if he receives a call like this in the future. "You always wonder how you would respond in situations like that and now I have an understanding of what needs to be done," he said. "When [he] took that first breath it was a great feeling and honestly, one of shock, because I had never been a part of something like that. As a cop, we tend to make the people we deal with have a bad day so it was good to help someone and his family have a good day." Sergeant Lisum said the local attention he has received has made him feel somewhat uncomfortable because this life-saving event was possible because of a group effort. "Sergeant Lisum's actions are another reminder of one of our other Core Values -- that being 'excellence in all we do' -- because you never know when you will be called upon to put your training and skills into use," said Colonel Linsenmeyer. Sergeant Bonar and Sergeant Lisum's culmination of years of military training put into action epitomizes the Air Force Core Values, according to Colonel Linsenmeyer. "I am certain that in both of these cases, their military training and the skills and abilities that they've learned during their military service, were crucial to their ability to assess and then handle these situations professionally and successfully," he said. "I believe that our training and skills that we learn and practice as members of the Air Force Reserve Command, and the Air Force Core Values, are things that are with you all the time, whether you are wearing the uniform or not. "Whether you are on-duty or off-duty, our nation depends upon the Air Force Reserve and ready, trained Airmen -- outstanding Citizen Airmen, like Sergeant Bonar and Sergeant Lisum. All of us in the 910th are very proud of them."