MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – A Brick native received an award recently for saving the life of a civilian who was having a medical emergency, officials said.
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Matthew T. Ubl, a light armored vehicle repair technician with Alpha Company (Co.), 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (2d LAR), 2d Marine Division (MARDIV), received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (NAVCOMM) for lifesaving actions on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 4, 2020.
The incident took place at a gas station in Richlands, N.C. on Dec. 16. Ubl saw a man lying unresponsive on the ground and sprung to action.
“My first thought was to make sure no one else was hurt and then I stepped in and started doing CPR and chest compressions to try to get a pulse back,” Ubl said. “I just wanted to keep him breathing until the ambulance got there.”
Ubl performed CPR for 15 minutes, officials said, which helped safe the man’s life. When first responders arrived, he helped by using their defibrillator.
“I was tired and my shoulders were giving out, but the adrenaline just kicked in and I gave my best and helped out however I could,” said Ubl. “I was just being a good person. This is what we train for, this is what we do, and helping another person is the best thing we can do.”
Aside from the basic Tactical Combat Casualty Care skills taught in Marine Corps basic training, Ubl had no prior experience with first aid.
The award he received, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, is given for acts of heroism or meritorious service.
“Cpl. Ubl is the kind of Marine that never asks for any sort of recognition or praise,” said Capt. Robert Mortenson, the company commander of Alpha Co., 2d LAR. “He’s not out to gain accolades but is one of the hardest working Marines in the company. So, it was no surprise me that he was the one who saved that man’s life.”
“Everyone says I’m a hero, but I feel like anyone else would have done the same thing,” said Ubl. “Just because I did it doesn’t make me special. I was just the right person at the right time.”
