Churchill County Navy JROTC Cmdr. Keileene Kato, left, recently presented the Meritorious Achievement Award to Cadet Seaman Michael Liston for his quick action in rescuing a drowning cadet. In the back are Master Chief Petty Officer Alec Lecker, left, and Lt. Humphrey Arata.
Photo by Steve Ranson.
A Churchill County High School student and member of the school’s Navy Junior ROTC program received Jan. 14 one of the highest awards — the Meritorious Achievement Award — given to a student for his quick-thinking and saving the life of a fellow student was drowning.
On Dec. 10, Seaman Cadet Michael Liston and his classmates were at the county’s indoor pool for their aquatic class when the CCHS junior saw Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Phoenix Bloomer fighting to stay afloat.
“I was done, and Phoenix and few others were swimming,” Liston said. “I heard someone say, ‘go get Phoenix. ‘I looked at Phoenix and saw she was drowning, so I took action. I swam to Phoenix, and I got her on her back, and we swam to the edge of the pool and waited for the lifeguard to come and help.”
Liston had previously been trained as a lifeguard.
“I was both scared because I wanted to make sure she was OK,” he explained. “I was confident because I was certified in CPR and lifeguard. I used to it for a job.”
For Bloomer, she was thankful Liston had the training and acted with confidence because she was having medical issues.
“So, I had already been behind,” Bloomer said of the school days she missed because of her health. “I was very stressed about the final and pushed myself too hard.”
Bloomer said she never had passed out in a swimming pool, so she wasn’t worried. Then, she began to feel faint and the worries of losing consciousness upset her. Then the inevitable occurred.
“I lost consciousness. I woke up and was still in the water, passed out again. Mikey had his arm around me at the end of the pool.”
Although Bloomer gained some consciousness, she passed out again only to find herself balancing on the gutter located on the side of the pool.
“I was outside of the water at that point,” she said. “It was pretty terrifying, to be honest. I woke up, and I couldn’t breathe.
Liston received the award in a small ceremony conducted in the JROTC classroom.
“We all know what a bystander is, right?” asked Command Master Chief Petty Officer James Walker. “Mikey had no hesitation, and he jumped into action. I guarantee some time in your life, you will be a bystander. Some will sit back and do nothing. Others will call 911 and get help or some will actually administer first aid until a first responder arrives.”
In part, the Meritorious Achievement Award recognized Liston for his actions as a cadet on the high school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training.
“Cadet Liston demonstrated excellent decision making, care and compassion at an aquatic class,” the citation read.