Retired Army general meets National Guardsman who saved his life

Tears of gratitude trickled as retired Army Gen. John G. Waggener Sr. met Army National Guard Spc. Joe Fields -- the man who brought him back from a heart attack almost two weeks ago.

At the National Guard Armory on Friday, Waggener presented a heartfelt thank-you letter to Fields, whose voice choked as he read it.

"I might have 20 more years, thanks to you," Waggener said to Fields.

The two men didn't know each other when they first met on Dec. 27 at the Show Me Center.

Fields, 25, was a recruiter while at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Basketball Tournament. Waggener, 80, attended to watch his almamater, Charleston High School, for the first time in 62 years.

He collapsed before he could make it past the front door.

After spotting Waggener lying face down among a crowd of people, Fields said he joined Blodgett, Mo., resident John Ramos, 20, in administering CPR.

"I did what I was trained to do," said Fields, who turned Waggener onto his back, straightened his legs and checked for breathing and a pulse. When he found neither, he began chest compressions while Ramos administered resuscitative breathing.

Within two minutes, Waggener was revived and emergency medical responders stabilized him and transported him to Saint Francis Medical Center.

Waggener stayed at the hospital for nearly two days, then was transported to St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo., where he underwent a heart valve transplant and an artery bypass surgery. Since he returned to Cape Girardeau on Wednesday, Waggener said he has felt no pain even though he has slowed down just a bit.