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NEW YORK
A Navy seaman home on a 4-day leave says the upside of getting stranded for hours on a snow-clogged New York highway was the chance to spend time with his wife and 3-month-old son.
Andrew and Kristen Lauda and son Christopher left home in Norfolk on Sunday morning. They got trapped in the blizzard on the Long Island Expressway for eight hours while driving to see family on Long Island.
Lauda tells NBC's "Today" his thoughts were about getting the baby somewhere warm. Click here to watch the video.
He contacted an ABC affiliate. It aired Lauda's interview, which was heard by Carlos Calderon in nearby Queens.
ABC News reports that Calderon was motivated to help because "that baby, it got me."
Calderon found them and drove them to their relatives — just 20 minutes away.
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For all of you criticizing the seaman's choice to call ABC
My understanding is that he called 911 but was told no help would be forthcoming. He thought outside the box, and it accompilshed exactly what he wanted - to get his baby out of those conditions. God bless the rescuer. There are so many good people out there.
snow storm
Why were so many people on the road when they knew a snow storm was coming..with an infant ..Tons of snow at airports..jets cant get in or out people still complaing ..Idiots...risking their lives on ice slick roads..
Good News
Good News
Most SN are the ages of
Most SN are the ages of 17-19 coming straight from home with little to no life experience. This is thier first job, first bank account, and often to avoid loneliness(because military life is hard and dangerous) choose to start families. Maturity to make smart decisions comes with time and knowledge not just signing your name on a 4 year contract. I think the judgement is not fair that it's okay to send these young people to war to be killed and maimed but not okay for them to take time that is rarely given off to see family. Thanks to the people who helped this young man as it will help him learn from his mistakes. Most military people in this area have not even been in a snow storm to understand the real danger. Another life lesson!
Benefit of doubt
I was willing to give this sailor the benefit of doubt as to how he handled the situation. Who knows exactly what anyone of us would have done until we are actually tested; when he said he went back later to get his puppy he left in the car I question his maturity. How could he have left his puppy behind knowing it could have froze to death?
How dare all of you
Why do you folks feel the need to attack this young sailor for trying to spend some time with his family during the holidays? Obviously he has the ability to use some good judgement as he did not wreck his vehicle. Here this guy is serving his country and you want to fault him for trying to spend some time with his family... Obviously none of you know the sacrifices our troops make so that you may have the freedoms that you enjoy on a daily basis that they all to often do not get to enjoy. Shame on all of you....
Why are there apologists
for the military no matter what they do? This sailor used poor judgement. First, driving in a predicted storm, second getting stuck, third calling a news outlet instead of 911. He has brought discredit to his service by his actions, even if they were so benign. I for one will not give him excuse. I say this as an enlisted veteran who knows the military expects good judgement and decision from all ranks all the time
You don't even know the whole story and you want to attack?
He did call 911. This sailor just got home from a deployment and wanted to spend some time with his family. Where is the problem in that? The young man successfully made it to his destination and got to spend time with his family during the holidays and no one was harmed in the making of this story. There is no discredit to his service here. Why are so many people acting as if wanting to spend some time with his family during the holidays, after a deployment is such a terrible thing?
the northeast was predicted to get over a foot as early as Wed.
they got the forecast right up there. meaning this kid should have known what he was driving into. The Navy likes to teach something called "Situational Awareness". I love my family like anyone else, but I'm sure they would get over any disappointment of not seeing me if it meant that I and my young family did not freeze to death on the L I E. I am very glad that him, his wife, their young son, and puppy are all safe, but as the man and provider for this family, he dropped the ball on this one and put everyone in danger.
was this kid from Long Island?
if so, that makes this story all the more embarrassing. He got 20 minutes from home, but didn't know enough to get himself out of trouble to finish the trip. Then, after being stuck for 8 hours, their instinct was to call a TV station and do an interview? and NOT call the family that was only 20 minutes away? I hope he matures an awful lot before he gains any leadership positions in the Navy.