Independent Medic Saves Lives in New Orleans, Needs Help

James L. Clark, combat medic, infantryman, police academy graduate, search and rescue specialist, certified rescue diver and tactical trainer went to New Orleans, overcame paralyzing bureaucracy and saved lives.

Its a great story, picked up by TV cameras.

He came home to regroup, after spending all his own money. Now he is going a second time and needs your help. Bureaucracy is still causing major problems and you can help overcome those problems and help people directly.

James L Clark

This is his story:

Dear Friend,

It took me a full day – I struggled with the question of should I go or should I stay. You have probably already said to yourself or others, “I sure wish I could help…” Well, let me challenge you on that by saying it is time for action, not for talk. Let’s not waste our breath on what didn’t happen, what could be done, or what should be done until we take action to do it ourselves; let’s make good things happen today! I need your help, so please get involved.

Do you see the picture above of people helping a woman on the street? My wife found this picture on the Fox News website; I remember when it was taken. Not because I took it, but because I am the guy in the black hat trying desperately to stabilize this woman so she doesn’t die. How I got there is an interesting story.

So How Does a Former Army Medic Turned Author End Up Protecting People, Keeping the Peace, and Saving Lives In New Orleans?

My son cried when I told him I was leaving to go because he had been watching it all on the news. He said to me, “I know you want to help people but I am scared… I don’t want you to get hurt.” “Me either son.” I said to him and we hugged. “Don’t worry…” I assured him. “It will be alright.”

Like you, I am human and I think about these things. But there’s more to it than that; bureaucracy convinced me that I had to go or more people would die! I know that the Lord has given me the ability to handle situations that others wouldn’t dream of being a part of; most people prefer safety and security. Why put yourself in harms way?

I have to admit, one of the things that seems to have gone wrong is the lack of coordination. When I got down to the French Quarter I didn’t see ANY police cars or EMS actively patrolling the area. There were plenty of air flights, but on the ground, things moved at a snails pace.

For example, in the market I saw a group of police from Arkansas who said they had been sitting there with no orders for a day because nobody seemed to know where to put them; they just had no idea what they were supposed to do – so they just sat there. Didn’t patrol and had no idea what was going on. I drove up to them, talked to them about that, and then drove off on my own to see if I could help. Bureaucracy is what is killing people; it is a lack of coordination and will to “just do it.” That is one of the main reasons I have to go back…

Alan Gray is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of NewsBlaze Daily News and other online newspapers. He prefers to edit, rather than write, but sometimes an issue rears it’s head and makes him start hammering away on the keyboard.

Content Expertise

Alan has been on the internet since it first started. He loves to use his expertise in content and digital marketing to help businesses grow, through managed content services. After living in the United States for 15 years, he is now in South Australia. To learn more about how Alan can help you with content marketing and managed content services, contact him by email.

Technical Expertise

Alan is also a techie. His father was a British soldier in the 4th Indian Division in WWII, with Sikhs and Gurkhas. He was a sergeant in signals and after that, he was a printer who typeset magazines and books on his linotype machine. Those skills were passed on to Alan and his brothers, who all worked for Telecom Australia, on more advanced signals (communications). After studying electronics, communications, and computing at college, and building and repairing all kinds of electronics, Alan switched to programming and team building and management.

He has a fascination with shooting video footage and video editing, so watch out if he points his Canon 7d in your direction.