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Editorial: Do what we can
Op-Ed · September 22, 2016
When we hear the word “hero,” we tend to think of soldiers, police officers, firefighters and the like. And they are.
We may not, however, think “sales associate.”
That’s Matthew Johnson’s title at Casey’s General Store at 615 South Downey Street. And he’s a hero.
Nope, there were no bullets or bombs or knives involved. He performed the Heimlich maneuver on a customer choking on a sandwich.
Not so glamorous, perhaps? Who cares, when the point of his cool-headed action meant saving a man’s life? The customer, Daryl Swanson, is quite grateful indeed.
Johnson, 25, credited West Branch High School with teaching him the life-saving move. Very cool, WBHS. Very cool.
Johnson is finishing up his courses at Kirkwood Community College and plans to attend the University of Iowa next. He’s working at Casey’s to help pay the bills.
And while your better-known heroes are shipped overseas to fight in foreign lands, or placed in squad cars and red trucks to respond to emergencies, this instance reminds us that anywhere, at any time, any of us may face such a challenge as Johnson did.
Casey’s, as with most gas stations along a busy highway, see lots of customers of all kinds come through their doors and by their pumps. West Branch police and fire have responded to a variety of emergencies at our local gas stations, from accidents to a baby left in sub-zero temperatures. In this case, Johnson had to respond faster than either the fire department or police department could.
Johnson said “I just did what I could,” and that is what was needed at that moment.
We’re glad to have you around, Matthew. May we each learn from your example: While our police and fire departments are wonderful, they cannot be everywhere.
Sometimes the rest of us need to step up, and do what we can.
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