While recently camping in Talladega National Forest with my black lab, Boomer, I had a most unfortunate encounter with one of your less-than-friendly inhabitants. At night and in my campsite, both Boomer and I were bitten by a venomous copperhead snake. Out of service range for my cell phone, I grabbed some essential supplies and began hiking to the nearest road. Soon, my lab became incapacitated and, while carrying him, myself as well. I realized I needed help. I called 911 and got the Calhoun County 911 Dispatch. I had no idea the help I was about to get. The 911 operator, David, kept me on the phone while the rescue teams searched for me in the pitch black. His calm demeanor and obvious concern for my dog was an incredible comfort to me.
The rescue teams got to us and took both Boomer and me out by ATV. They saw my concern for my dog and treated him with as much care as you would expect for any human person. Heck, they even referred to him as one of “the patients.” While I was brought to RMC, Boomer was driven to Cheaha Animal Hospital. Lying in the emergency room of RMC, a doctor introduced himself as Dr. William Simpkins at a quarter after midnight. Great, just one more person I have to tell the “snake bite story”!
Well, turns out, that Dr. Simpkins was the vet from Cheaha Animal Hospital. He had come out to tell me how Boomer was doing and that he expected Boomer would survive the night and also not lose his arm or paw. Dr. Nigel Palmer from RMC also told me that it looked like I would be fine as well ... up and about in less than a week.
What really happened next is what compels me to write. You see, even though I am in the Marines and my squadron offered to fly someone up to get me back, I really had no one to help me out. To complicate matters, other than my dogtags, I had no other form of identification. My wallet, as well as the keys to my truck, were up at my campsite with all of my gear.
It started with the stream of visitors in the hospital (I apologize for not mentioning all the names ... in the face of narcotics, I don’t remember my time in the hospital all that well) who came out to see how I was doing. Apparently, there were also about a dozen folks who stopped by to see Boomer at Cheaha. Then, Jerry Jackson of Calhoun County 911 coordinated and personally endeavored the recovery of all my camping equipment with a couple other guys. Lynn Wright drove me from the hospital and to my hotel room for my last night in Anniston. She also took me on a detour to visit Boomer and offered me dinner with some friends and to drive me wherever I needed to go. Actually, I just needed to go to sleep!
Special thanks to Lynn Wright and Jerry Jackson of Calhoun County 911. Super, professional organization there. Also, my incredible personal thanks to Dr. William Simpkins of Cheaha Animal Hospital and his partner Dr. William Hendley. They helped saved my dog’s life, took amazing personal care of him and ... don’t know if I’m getting anyone in trouble here ... refused to charge me for his emergency care. I also have to thank David of Calhoun 911 (he was the operator) who facilitated the rescue team finding me and Boomer.
Thanks to Leigh of the medic team who tended to both Boomer and me on-scene. Also, thanks to Jennifer of Wingate Inn who not only accepted my parents’ charge card when I had no ID on me, but also was kind enough to drive out and pick me up dinner Thursday night. I’m sure I’ve missed some people and I apologize, but I think you get the idea here. Great town of people.
The unwavering personal devotion to duty on the part of so many in the towns of Anniston and Oxford was just simply amazing. And really, it went well past devotion to duty.
I felt as if I had family in town and that I wasn’t really stuck at all. I’m usually the one to be in charge and to come to the aid of others. In this case, the tables were suddenly turned on me and I was humbled and quite honored with how these people came to my aid ... above and beyond what any reasonable person would expect.
Ian Stone, Major, USMC
Pensacola, Fla.
