Navy Secretary John Dalton will honor Ensign Michail Charissis, USN, with theNavy-Marine Corps Medal in a ceremony on Friday, April 26, for his heroismfollowing the crash of a Maryland Rail Commuter (MRC) and an Amtrak train onFebruary 16.
Charissis is a second-year medical student at the UniformedServices University of the Health Sciences (operated by the Department ofDefense).
Charissis, 23, a passenger on the Maryland Rail Commuter (MRC) that collidedwith the Amtrak train on February 16, had the opportunity to escape from thecar in which he rode to immediate safety, but instead he returned to the frontof the (second) car to assist a seriously injured fellow passenger, GeraldineDykes, Laurel, Md.
Complicating matters both Charissis and Dykes had losttheir glasses in the crash.
With great effort, Charissis managed to get thetrain's emergency window open and get Dykes to rescuers on the ground.
He thenjoined in the process of providing aid and comfort to others.
Only after otherinjured passengers were cared for, Charissis, remembering a dinner engagement,left the scene with little notice.
The Navy Marine Corps medal is one of the Department of the Navy's highestnon-combat medals that can be awarded to an individual for an act of heroisminvolving lifesaving, or attempted lifesaving, while placing their life atrisk.
The outdoor presentation ceremony in front of Charissis' first and second yearmedical school classmates (more than 300) is scheduled at the UniformedServices University at 8 a.m., Friday, April 26.
Among the other specialguests invited to the ceremony are: Geraldine Dykes, Congresswoman ConstanceMorella, and Montgomery County Police officials.
Media interested in attending or covering the ceremony should call UniformedServices University of the Health Sciences' University Affairs at 301-295-3166(or FAX 301-295-3757) for arrival and parking arrangements.
Media should planto arrive at the University no later than 7:45 a.m. on Friday, April 26.
TheUniversity is located at 4601 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, (on the propertyof the National Naval Medical Center between Wisconsin and ConnecticutAvenues).
Printer-friendly Version