Chief Hospital Corpsman Shawn McCart

Chief Hospital Corpsman Shawn McCart wasn’t concerned with what uniform the man was wearing, as a “doc” he knew exactly what to do for a man suffering a heart attack.

In 2014, on a deployment to Georgia and Afghanistan, then-HM1 McCart was called to the scene of a Georgian soldier who had collapsed. Within seconds McCart saw the soldier wasn’t breathing and he couldn’t find a pulse. Then doc did what Navy docs do best: he saved the man’s life.

McCart set to work on the soldier, administering a defibrillator and performing an emergency surgery to insert a breathing tube into the man’s trachea.

McCart worked on the soldier for 45 minutes, reestablishing a pulse and stabilizing the man for follow-on care. McCart had saved his life.

He’s not just a hero overseas, McCart is a leader in his community. He volunteers as a flag-football coach for kids at the local YMCA and he has worked with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization for the past 10 years.

On top of that, McCart makes time every year he’s not deployed to drive up to Arlington National Cemetery at Christmas time to lay wreaths at the graves.

“He even helped organize and lead the crowd, ensuring an orderly procession of events and that all graves were honored as intended,” said Master Chief Operations Specialist Derek Newell.

McCart is an inspiration on and off duty to fellow service members, Newell said.

“He has demonstrated the highest standards of personal conduct and moral character and is also known for motivating those around him to excel and grow personally and professionally,” Newell said.