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During a motorcycle ride in the Garmisch area of Germany, husband-wife team Sgts. 1st Class Cathleen Stadler-Frazier and Robert Frazier render aid to an accident victim who was thrown from his motorcycle during an organized bike ride. Cathleen provided medical assistance to the victim while Robert ensured the accident scene was safe and secure.
GARMISCH, Germany — During a leisurely motorcycle ride through the Bavarian Alps, Sgts. 1st Class Cathleen Stadler-Frazier and Robert Frazier never expected their military training would be a crucial part of their weekend.
Cathleen, an operations NCO assigned to the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 409th Contracting Support Brigade, and husband Robert, an operations NCO assigned to the 5th Military Police Battalion, were part of an organized annual motorcycle ride through the Bavarian Alps. During their ride, they noticed a wrecked motorcycle lying on the ground and leaking fluid.
“I saw the scene, and I thought that could be one of our own. I knew I had to help, because I didn’t see any medical people,” Cathleen said. She had served in the medical field prior to transitioning to contracting.
As others moved the victim off the small village street, the NCOs rushed to the scene to help.
Cathleen’s military medical training kicked in as she got to the accident victim, while her husband took control of the pedestrians and traffic to secure a safe scene.
“When I first arrived, I thought of the worst-case scenarios,” she said. “I immediately began thinking head injuries, bleeding and fractures. I had no idea what to expect. I began taking control of the person’s medical needs. I checked him for major injuries and stayed with him until he was able to contact his riding partners and medical paramedics were able to get to the scene.”
The accident victim, whom the Fraziers did not know personally, was a U.S. Soldier and part of a 15-person organized bike ride. He sustained minor cuts to the face and bumps and bruises after running into a pole and being ejected from his bike.
The Fraziers stayed with the victim until local authorities arrived on the scene.
“We felt it was our duty to stay with him,” Cathleen said. “We are in a foreign country, and this was one of our own.”
The patient was admitted to a local hospital and released two days later.
“It was a good thing he was wearing all of his motorcycle gear, or else this situation could have been a lot worse,” she said.
