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News from the Oklahoma National Guard

NEWS | July 1, 2021

A COVID Story with CW3 Julio Dominguez

By Leanna Maschino Oklahoma National Guard

On February 16, 2021, the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Chief Warrant Officer 3 Julio Dominguez tested positive for COVID-19.

Three days later, he couldn’t breathe.

After being rushed to the hospital, Julio’s condition had worsened to the point of needing a ventilator and was placed into a medically-induced coma.

But that wouldn’t be enough. As his condition rapidly declined, he required an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, or “ECMO”, in order to stay alive.

In total, Julio was on a ventilator for 56 days and ECMO for 45 days.

This is his story.
Video by Spc. Anthony Ackah-Mensah
SWOSU GOLD Soldiers and student honored for saving fellow student’s life
Oklahoma National Guard
March 13, 2025 | 1:22
Four Southwestern Oklahoma State University Guard Officer Leadership Development (GOLD) program officer candidates and one student lifeguard were honored on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, for their heroic actions in saving a fellow GOLD candidate during a training exercise on Jan. 28, 2025, in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Spc. Avrie Nowakowski, Spc. Diego Ortiz, Pfc. Rhyson Golightly, and Spc. Austin May were among the officer candidates who received the Army Achievement Medal for their actions.

Statton Mantz, the student lifeguard involved, received the Thunderbird Medal, the Oklahoma National Guard’s highest award presented to a civilian
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