Marine saves life of former marine/retired police officer

A retired Houston Police Sergeant and Marine veteran thought his life was coming to an end when out of nowhere a young Marine came to his rescue.

KPRC Houston reported Jim Babb had just returned from vacation, flying into Houston Hobby Airport.  After getting his luggage, he walked outside when suddenly he felt ill.

Trying to make it back inside to the baggage claim area, Babb collapsed and started to lose consciousness.  Babb said he collapsed near the double doors and no one seemed to care.

“Like a camera going out of focus, it just started getting blurry. And I was having problems breathing,” Babb said.  “I honestly felt like I was dying.”

Suddenly a stranger came to his rescue.

“I looked up and there was a young man standing over me. He said, ‘You’re going to be OK, you’re going to be OK,’” said Babb. “I said, ‘Marine,’ and he said, ‘I’m a Marine, too. You’re in good hands.’”

“I know his first name is Wade. He’s 5 foot 8 inches (tall), he’s a U.S. Marine back from his second tour in Iraq,” said Babb, barely remembering the incident.  He also recalls the man’s last names sounding like McGuirty or started with a “Mc.”

The young man stayed with Babb until paramedics arrived at the scene.  He even gave money to people nearby to buy water for the fallen vet to keep him cool and hydrated.

According to KHOU, Babb overheard the Marine telling the paramedics that he had just returned home from a second tour of duty in Iraq. As he was loaded into an ambulance, the young man had one last thing to say to him.

“He patted me on the shoulder and he said, ‘Semper fi,’ which is a Marine term.  And then he walked away,” Babb said.

Doctors have since said they think Babb was having a mild stroke, possibly brought on by the heat.

Babb said he would like to get in touch with the Marine who was at the airport on September 18.

“I would really like to meet this Marine and thank him for saving my life,” said Babb, thinking how the young man’s actions saved his life and allowed him to continue to be a father to his three daughters.