January 13th, 1982: Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River. Only six of the 74 passengers survived the crash and ended up in the icy water. While a helicopter was able to come in and snatch four of the 6 passengers one disappeared under the water while another – Priscilla Tirado – helplessly struggled in the 33 degree water. Unable to hold on to the rope lowered by the helicopter she began to drown. A bystander who witnessed the crash while he was walking home could not take it any longer. He could not stand there and watch this woman drown. He removed his coat and jumped in the water. He swam over to her as she laid just under the water, grabbed her – and pulled her to the bank.
He saved her life.
This is the epitome of the Sheepdog.
Not everyone can jump into action and put themselves into harm’s way. Not everyone can be a Sheepdog. Can it be learned or developed? Probably. People are just wired in different ways.
I have had several situations where things were happening nearby and I could not just sit back and not get involved. Sometimes it was preventing someone from getting hurt. Sometimes it was standing up for someone. Sometimes it was helping someone who was already hurt. Risk evaluation has to be done but sometimes there just isn’t any time.
Saturday evening I was walking through Uptown Charlotte, NC with a friend. Walking down the sidewalk along the busy street I came towards a metal bench. I wasn’t looking at it rather just walking with my friend talking. In an instant, I saw a child run around from the front of the bench to the back of it and then straight towards the car filled street. I didn’t think about it I just moved. I ran and grabbed the kid – about 2 years old – just inches from the street. Did I save the kids life? I don’t know. The father noticed the kid as well and put his hand out in front of the child right at the same time I got to him.
My heart was pounding in my chest. My buddy said he didn’t see anything and just saw me take off. Some big, muscular guy said his heart was racing because he thought the kid was going to get hit. I almost said it but didn’t – “Why did you just stand there?”
The answer to that question is not everyone reacts the same nor has the capability to react the same.
As for me – I will continue to mind my own business until it’s time NOT to mind my own business.
JR.
Awesome man! You really stirred me up with that life story and perspective. Good job brother and very excellent topic.
Thanks Capt. Michaels.
I honestly believe that most people have the need to do good… And some have the need to do bad. I’ve seen it in my line of work: those people that intentionally cause harm for pleasure.
When that happens s there are exactly 3 kinds of people: those that run away, those that freeze and can’t act, and those that run towards the danger to help others.
It is my belief that Sheepdogs are created. They aren’t trained. When in school you fought the bully. As an adult you get deployed, put on watch, ride patrol, or sit on standby(like I’m doing now in my ambulance). Sometimes, Sheepdogs do other work, but regardless of this they are always on standby; watching, waiting, and listening for the moment they are most needed. They are teachers, doctors, construction workers, and homeless. They are Democrats and Republicans.
Words of wisdom Prepper Ralph.
well done .. and way to be vigilant. It’s what you do right? and who you are.
I agree with Prepper Ralph. Sheepdogs are created not selected and trained. You find a sheep dog and then train them to hone their skills, but you can’t turn a sheep or a wolf into sheepdog. As long as we breathe we stand watch. Not perfectly though. The hardest thing for a Sheepdog to do is accept the responsibility for making a mistake in either vigilance or action. It happens. Thing is even then they DO accept responsibility and use it to drive them even more to improve. (It has to be hard to be a sheepdog in a liberally controlled military.) Neither wolves nor sheep care anything about responsibility, but are either oblivious or ruthlessly out for themselves. I would suspect that more sheepdogs appear as the pressure increases, and still not be more and 1 or 2 out of a hundred, if that. If you have the time to think, you should. Just do the right thing, there are far worse thing than dying, and all of them come from doing nothing.
Appreciate the words goingray58. I tend to agree with the position that Sheepdogs are born – not developed or trained.
Good reminder article JR, I do believe sheep dogs are hard wired a certain way, i also believe to that they are mentored by sheep dogs ahead of them in there lives growing up, so that we can relieve them of there post when they are ready to stand down do to age and health.I had my step grandfather and my mother and close friends who were sheep dogs.
Thanks Badger359.
Another well done JR. I’ll add to consensus sheepdogs are born sheepdogs. Time, experience and mentors can refine and hone that instinct into a fine skill but without that inborn instinct there is no sheepdog.
Thanks Hypax. Appreciate you taking the time to comment.