CAS3
06-23-06, 08:33 AM
:marine:
Friday, June 23, 2006
BY DANIEL D'AMBROSIO
Copyright © 2006 Republican-American
MIDDLEBURY -- Charlie Larkin and Joe Soukup were jackhammering stones to prepare a foundation last Friday when they heard a tree fall and a chainsaw stop in a neighboring yard.
Larkin, a general contractor, and Soukup, his longtime friend and a homeless Vietnam veteran, were setting the footings for an addition to a home at 1706 Middlebury Road.
"When he comes to visit me he helps out," Larkin said Thursday. "I buy him dinners and give him a place to stay."
The pair had noticed the sound of the chainsaw that morning, but what they didn't yet know was that Juanito Josef, 64, of 1738 Middlebury Road, had just nearly lost his leg.
The tree Josef was cutting down kicked back as it fell and pinned his leg against another tree, leaving the leg dangling by its skin.
Larkin stepped forward Thursday to talk about what happened next, when Soukup likely saved Josef's life with his quick thinking and fast action. Soukup served in combat with the Marines for 13 months in Vietnam, beginning in 1967, and had some medical training.
"It was his veteran instincts that saved this guy," said Larkin. "I was a shaky squirrel on the telephone."
Larkin said there were no screams, just a faint cry that Friday morning. Soukup called out to the man neither of them could see, and a reply came back, "I'm hurt, my leg."
"That's when the action started," said Larkin.
The two men began to jog toward the neighboring yard when Soukup told Larkin to get on the cell phone, so he stayed behind to call for help.
"He came running back and said, 'Charlie, it's bad. The guy ain't going to make it if I can't stop the bleeding,'" Larkin said.
Soukup had found Josef crawling toward the sound of their construction work, as no one else was around. He ran to his truck, which has also been home for the past two years, and grabbed a Bungee cord to use as a tourniquet, but it broke.
Soukup ran to his truck a second time and found a rope and a towel. Tying off the severed leg, Soukup stayed with Josef until emergency personnel arrived, comforting him with a pillow from his truck and giving him water to drink, said Larkin.
"He even got the guy laughing a little bit," said Larkin.
(This story continued on page 2)
Friday, June 23, 2006
BY DANIEL D'AMBROSIO
Copyright © 2006 Republican-American
MIDDLEBURY -- Charlie Larkin and Joe Soukup were jackhammering stones to prepare a foundation last Friday when they heard a tree fall and a chainsaw stop in a neighboring yard.
Larkin, a general contractor, and Soukup, his longtime friend and a homeless Vietnam veteran, were setting the footings for an addition to a home at 1706 Middlebury Road.
"When he comes to visit me he helps out," Larkin said Thursday. "I buy him dinners and give him a place to stay."
The pair had noticed the sound of the chainsaw that morning, but what they didn't yet know was that Juanito Josef, 64, of 1738 Middlebury Road, had just nearly lost his leg.
The tree Josef was cutting down kicked back as it fell and pinned his leg against another tree, leaving the leg dangling by its skin.
Larkin stepped forward Thursday to talk about what happened next, when Soukup likely saved Josef's life with his quick thinking and fast action. Soukup served in combat with the Marines for 13 months in Vietnam, beginning in 1967, and had some medical training.
"It was his veteran instincts that saved this guy," said Larkin. "I was a shaky squirrel on the telephone."
Larkin said there were no screams, just a faint cry that Friday morning. Soukup called out to the man neither of them could see, and a reply came back, "I'm hurt, my leg."
"That's when the action started," said Larkin.
The two men began to jog toward the neighboring yard when Soukup told Larkin to get on the cell phone, so he stayed behind to call for help.
"He came running back and said, 'Charlie, it's bad. The guy ain't going to make it if I can't stop the bleeding,'" Larkin said.
Soukup had found Josef crawling toward the sound of their construction work, as no one else was around. He ran to his truck, which has also been home for the past two years, and grabbed a Bungee cord to use as a tourniquet, but it broke.
Soukup ran to his truck a second time and found a rope and a towel. Tying off the severed leg, Soukup stayed with Josef until emergency personnel arrived, comforting him with a pillow from his truck and giving him water to drink, said Larkin.
"He even got the guy laughing a little bit," said Larkin.
(This story continued on page 2)