The life of a Florida Army National Guardsman and an elderly Florida citizen changed significantly on August 13, 2024. Sgt. 1st Class Reginald Robinson, a liaison officer for the Florida National Guard Department of Corrections support mission, alerted first responders about Karl Minicks, an unresponsive male lying outside his residence. Medical personnel confirmed that Robinson's quick thinking led to crucial life-saving interventions.
"I'll do that for anyone," said Robinson. "I can't pass by someone while seeing them laying out like that. It could happen to me, it could happen to anyone, and I would hope someone would do the same for me. When we take that oath, it's home and country. We are citizen Soldiers. I'm just glad I was able to stop and help."
Robinson was traveling to a site visit during an ongoing mission when he noticed Minicks in distress. He realized Minicks was lethargic and unable to respond to questions. Robinson flagged down a vehicle for assistance and alerted first responders while assessing Minicks' condition.
"Thanks to the Army I was better prepared to render aid in that situation," said Robinson. "When I went to a combat lifesaver course, I learned a lot of skills that I can still use to this day. I highly encourage everyone to learn as much as you can and take advantage of everything the Guard has to offer," he noted. "You never know when those skills will come in handy. It can help not only your battle buddies but even civilians as well."
Robinson has been passionate about military duty since enlisting over 23 years ago, fulfilling his lifelong goal of becoming a National Guard Soldier.
"This event stayed on my mind for the next couple days, so when I found myself taking that drive again, I decided to stop by this gentleman's home," said Robinson. "To my surprise, the person who answered me that day was that [same] gentleman. He came to the door with a smile on his face, shook my hand and gave me a big hug. When he thanked me he said that if it wasn't for me, the doctor told him he would have had a stroke that day."
A bond of friendship formed between them on that August day, leaving an indelible mark on Robinson.
"He will always be a friend of mine," said Robinson. "I'll always have a spot for him in my heart. For my fellow guardsmen, if you ever see someone in that situation, always help. You never know how you can change the outcome."
Robinson's actions reflect his commitment to Florida and embody Army Core Values as he hopes to inspire future Guardsmen.