ARLINGTON, Va. — When a rookie D.C. firefighter saw that one of the victims recovered from the Potomac River was a soldier, he stood guard for hours until relieved by military personnel.
Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, crew chief of the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport, was among the first victims brought ashore, NBC Washington reported.
Probationary Firefighter Sean Wathen, a former Marine, recognized O’Hara’s flight suit and remained by his side for nearly four hours, sources said.
O’Hara’s father Gary said he would like to meet the firefighters, especially Wathen, who is assigned to Engine 12 and has been on the job for about seven months.
“One thing that I did wanted to say and thank is all those first responders, the people that sacrificed themselves to jump into that ice cold water to go through the plane and the wreckage that retrieved our son,” Gary said. “Thank you. There are no words to express our thanks for that. You helped bring our boy home.”
