Armed Forces News

An Okinawa-based Marine is credited with saving the life of a woman who was choking on a piece of food at a beachfront café there. Staff Sgt. Jonathan McClure, a military policeman assigned to Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Butterfield, Japan, received the Navy Achievement Medal for his actions on Feb. 22. McClure was eating lunch with his wife at the café on Feb. 19, when he witnessed a woman named Jillian Romag begin choking while she was seated at another table with a friend. He leapt from his seat and began administering the Heimlich maneuver on her. She expelled the piece of food from her throat after three thrusts. After Romag assured McClure she was OK, he began cleaning up the detritus of the event.

“This reminded me that there are really still good people out there. The Marine Corps takes care of its people and teaches people how to take care of others,” Romag said.