Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Helton, a Gainesville, Georgia, native serving aboard Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Beaufort, South Carolina, was recently awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in 2010.
Helton has served in the Navy for 17 years.
“I joined the Navy for a chance at a better life,” Helton said. “I’ve always had an admiration for the military and I knew I needed something exciting and challenging in order to be fulfilled.”
Today, Helton serves as a hospital corpsman.
“What I value most about my work is the opportunity to help others — not only through patient care but also by teaching and leading those around me,” Helton said. “Over the course of my career, I have discovered a strength in simplifying complex topics to make them more accessible and understandable. Early on, I recognized the critical importance of becoming a subject matter expert, and I consistently emphasize the significance of our work when I teach. In many cases, the knowledge and skills we share can truly mean the difference between life and death.”
The Purple Heart, among the country’s oldest and most recognizable military medals, is awarded to service members who were killed or wounded by enemy action. The award was created in 1782 by George Washington to encourage gallantry and fidelity among soldiers by formally recognizing meritorious action.
NMRTC Beaufort, located at Naval Support Facility Beaufort, includes Naval Hospital Beaufort, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Parris Island, and the health clinic located at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. According to Navy officials, NMRTC’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research.
Image Courtesy of: U.S. NAVY
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
Helton has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of the time I spent fighting alongside my Marines — of what we were able to accomplish together, and of the professionalism and camaraderie we demonstrated, especially during the most challenging times,” Helton said.
Helton serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security. “While I am deeply proud of my service in the Navy, I am even more honored to call myself a Navy corpsman,” Helton said. “Belonging to the most decorated rate in the Navy, and carrying forward a legacy of courage, sacrifice and unwavering service alongside the Marines, fills me with a profound sense of pride and purpose. It is a heritage I hold close to my heart and strive to uphold every day.”
Helton is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my wife, Kaitlyn, for her unwavering support and countless sacrifices over the years,” Helton said. “She has truly been the foundation and strength of our family, and much of my success is a direct result of her love, encouragement, and steadfast belief in me.”
Feature Image Courtesy of: U.S. NAVY
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