Purple Heart recipient speaks to Broome County dispatchers

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A local Purple Heart recipient and motivational speaker recently hosted two special presentations for Broome County emergency dispatchers.

Rick Yarosh, a retired U.S. Army sergeant, presented to dispatchers during trainings at the Broome County Office of Emergency Services on September 24 and September 26.

Yarosh is a retired U.S. Army sergeant. For the past 16 years, he has toured the country instilling HOPE (Hold on, Possibilities Exist) into others. He tours solo as well as with Sweethearts & Heroes, a student empowerment and empathy activation program directed by Tom Murphy, of St. Albans, VT. For more than 16 years, Sweethearts & Heroes, which aims to prevent bullying and suicide, has made presentations to more than 2 million students.

Yarosh has spoken to and inspired millions of people from all walks of life, including sports teams, schools, churches, military groups, and non-profits. For his, he received the Purple Heart.

Yarosh was deployed to Iraq in December 2005. On Sept. 1, 2006, he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device in Abu Ghraib. Following the incident, he recovered at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas where he fought through second and third degree burns on more than 60% of his body. Additionally, his right leg was amputated below the knee, and he lost both ears, his nose, multiple fingers, and most of the function in his hands. Yarosh says the only reason he would change that moment is if he could bring back his brothers in arms that he lost in combat: Sgt. Luis Montes and SFC Anthony Venetz.

Senior Dispatcher and Training Coordinator for the Broome County Office of Emergency Services Richard Wrobleski said he invited Yarosh to offer a “fresh perspective” to 50 of Broome County’s dispatchers as they are feeling the pressures and stress due to a staff shortage.

Broome County is currently looking to fill several full-time and part-time dispatcher positions.

“The presentations were amazing,” Wrobleski said. “Each day, there was complete focus on Rick for the entire hour. No one was checking their cell phone, no one was staring out the window, no sidebar conversations. I’m not certain, but there even might have been a couple people who ‘got something in my eye making it water’ during the video of Rick with all the school kids. ‘Amazing.’ ‘Powerful.’ ‘Incredible story.’ ‘Wow.’ Those are just a couple of the comments from the people who were there.”

For more on Yarosh and his program, click here .

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