On October 24th, Michael Cali Moore, a National Guardsman, sent "Dan," the anonymous founder of the
Facebook page "
Awesome Sh*t My Drill Sergeant Said" a message
concerning his Battle Buddy, a Guardsman in another platoon: "I don't know where else to turn. I'm 100% certain that my friends is planning on killing himself tonight and I cannot get a hold of him or anyone that can get to him. Can you help me?" he
wrote, adding details of his friend's personal and financial woes.
The answer turned out to be yes.
Dan, a Staff Sergeant in the Army National Guard, put at status update on the page:
"TROOP IN TROUBLE," the
Facebook status
read. "We just received a request for help from a troop that turned to us in desperation because it is the middle of the night and no one in the chain of command is picking up the phone and he sincerely believes his battle [buddy] is planning to take his own life tonight."
"If you are in or near Kingsport, TN or know a battle that is, email me ASAP," Dan
added, concluding, "If we lose one, that is one too many."
The post was shared more than 200 times that night. Some who read the post even drove to the area, waiting on news of a specific location. Dan continued to update the post as police searched the man's last known address. He wasn't there.
Somehow the soldier heard about the
Facebook community's determination to help him.
He texted Dan:
"I appreciate what you and everybody with your page are trying to do, but I've made my decision," he
wrote.
According to Business Insider, Dan
made contact with the soldier's Executive Officer. GPS coordinates helped the group track down the soldier who was drinking alone in a small apartment. His Executive Officer and fellow soldiers spoke to him through the door, encouraging him to not give up.
Hours after first posting the call to action, Dan
was able to reassure the
Facebook group: "Soldier is safe and getting the help he needs."
