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"Do Your Job As If ________'s Life Depended On It"
You may have never heard of Elgin Staples. After reading his story you will may be unable to forget his experience.
It was 2 AM when the heavy cruiser USS Astoria was attacked during World War Two. During the battle, one of the eight-inch guns exploded - not an uncommon occurrence for battle-weary ships. The explosion threw Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples overboard with shrapnel in both legs. Before passing out he activated his life belt.
Four hours later an alert sailor on a passing destroyer saw him. He was rescued and returned to the damaged Astoria. He never removed his life belt. After hours of futile repair attempts, the captain of the Astoria decided to beach the ship to save it from sinking. Something went wrong with the maneuver and Signalman Staples found himself floating in the ocean again for the second time in the same day. Doing his job right (keeping on his belt) saved his life.
This time the USS Andrew Jackson was steaming towards the disabled Astoria, spotted Staples in the water and rescued him. Finally, he was sent to sick bay where his wounds could be tended. He was now holding on to his life belt; he had learned his lesson! He saw this belt as one of the reasons he would someday go back home and, curiously, noticed that his belt had been made at the Firestone Rubber Company in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
Months later he was given thirty days of recuperation leave and went back home to visit his family in Akron. Here is his story in his own words:
When I finally took my thirty day leave, I went home to my family in Ohio. After a quietly emotional welcome, I sat with my mother in the kitchen, retelling her about my ordeal and hearing about what had happened at home since I had gone away. My mother informed me that "to do her part" she had gotten a wartime job at the Firestone plant. Surprised, I jumped up and, grabbing my life belt from my duffel bag, put it on the table in front of her.
"Take a look at that, Mom," I said. "It was made right here in Akron, in your plant."
She leaned forward and, taking the rubber belt in her hands, she read the label. She had just heard the story and knew in the darkness of that terrible night, it was this one piece of rubber that had saved my life. When she looked up at me, her mouth and her eyes were open in surprise. "Son, I'm an inspector at Firestone. This is my inspector number," she said, her voice hardly above a whisper.
We stared at each other, too stunned to speak. Then I stood up, walked around the table and pulled her up from her chair. We held each other in a tight embrace, saying nothing. My mother was not a demonstrative woman, but the significance of this amazing coincidence overcame her usual reserve.
You're back in the saddle today. Would you do your job any differently if you knew someone's life depended on it?
How disappointing if the answer to that question is yes.
Teach Others!
Chuck Reaves, CSP, CPAE, CSO
800. MR. REAVES (800.677.3283) |
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