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'A Civilian Hero!': Mother's Quick Action Saves Young Airman After Hit-And-Run

September 9, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Dededo, Guam.

In the early morning darkness on a highway in Guam, as cars swerved around what appeared to be debris, one woman’s instinct to help saved a young man’s life.

Deb Bute, a military spouse and mother of two, was on her way to work when she encountered a sudden slowdown in traffic near Camp Blaz.

Photo from the accident / 36th Wing Commander on Facebook

Unlike other drivers, who steered around what they assumed was just an object in the road, Bute realized something was wrong. As she approached, her heart sank—the “object” was a person lying face down, barely visible in the poor lighting. The man, dressed in black with no reflective vest, wore military trousers, a sight all too familiar to her.

“It was a kid, a young man. That could have been my son,” she later reflected.

Without hesitation, Bute blocked traffic, turned on her hazard lights, and rushed to the man's side. Recently trained in first aid, she calmly assessed the situation, addressing him as “Buddy” to keep him alert. The Airman was conscious but unable to move, telling her that a driver had cut him off, causing his accident. Shockingly, the driver fled the scene, leaving him injured in the middle of the road.

As Bute stayed with the Airman, offering comfort and reassurance, she flagged down another motorist to call 911. Despite her frustration that other drivers had ignored the young man, she remained focused, talking to him until emergency responders arrived. Thanks to her quick thinking and compassion, the Airman was rushed to Navy Hospital Guam, where he was treated and later released.

Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenske, commander of the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, publicly praised Bute’s actions, calling her a "civilian hero." In a Facebook post, he emphasized how close the situation came to a tragedy.

“I really think that had it not been for the keen foresight, judgment, and overall good Samaritan actions of Ms. Bute, further tragedy might have occurred. She may have truly saved his life,” he said.

Though Bute didn’t catch the Airman’s name, she later expressed concern for his well-being, relieved to learn that he was on the road to recovery.

"I was just glad to hear that he was okay, that he only had an (injured) knee or leg, or whichever it was,” she said. “It could have been a lot worse."