Incident at the Congas

  • Published
  • By James C. Dillard
  • Headquarters, Air Force Office of Special Investigations
MANTA, Ecuador --  Colorful festivals and celebrations are a mainstay throughout the year in the Latin country of Ecuador. In November, the Ecuadorians were celebrating their annual theatre festival in the city of Manta, and among the celebrants, two American contractors passed the night and early morning in a popular nightclub called the Congas.

It was in that nightclub that one of the contractors, Mr. James Armet, would learn first hand that even in the middle of celebration, tragedy can occur. And if not for the quick actions of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Special Agent Chris Montoya, Mr. Armet might not have lived to celebrate another day.

Special Agent Montoya was sound asleep when he received a call shortly after 3 a.m. on November 16.

The call was from the Manta Forward Operating Location Joint Operation Center. The JOC had received a call from a U.S. Navy member informing them that an American civilian contractor was having chest pains and fading in and out of consciousness outside of a local night club.

Special Agent Montoya is in a one-deep position there at AFOSI's 2 FIR OL-BE in Manta. His office supports the 478th Expeditionary Operations Squadron.

Although his responsibility technically extends only to the force protection of U.S. military personnel in Manta, he said he also treats all U.S. civilian personnel as well as host nation Ecuadorians who support
and work on the Forward Operating Location as being under the same Force Protection umbrella.

"I didn't have to respond to the call but did because it was the right thing to do," he said.

Special Agent Montoya battled thick festival traffic on his way to the Congas nightclub. Ten minutes later, he arrived at the nightclub to find Mr. Armet unconscious and surrounded by more than 20 people, including two U.S. Navy members and Mr. Armet's American coworker, Mr. David Buwi.

"I asked Mr. Buwi what had happened, and he advised that Mr. Armet had diabetes and had complained of chest pain in the club," SA Montoya said, in a report.

Mr. Buwi and the two Navy members had helped Mr. Armet exit the club when he was struggling to remain conscious.

An ambulance was supposedly on the way, but SA Montoya was skeptical as to when or even if it might arrive. In Manta, it was not uncommon for emergency vehicles to never arrive because of things as simple as fuel shortages and poor vehicle maintenance.

"I called the JOC and was informed that the FOL doctor, Lt. Col. Joseph Lopez, would be meeting me at the San Gregorio Hospital," SA Montoya said.

Fifteen minutes passed while they anxiously awaited the ambulance's arrival from the hospital. While they waited, Mr. Armet had several one-minute long convulsions that literally shook SA Montoya's hands off of him.

Even with the immediate concern of Mr. Armet convulsing violently and possibly dying in front of him, SA
Montoya said he was also thinking of his safety and of the other Americans present.

"I had four Americans to think about, and how was I going to keep us from any danger while still helping Armet," SA Montoya said. "Ecuador is a critical crime level country, and Manta falls right in-line with this rating. Outside of a club at 3 a.m., with some Americans in a third world country is just asking for trouble."

Mr. Armet regained some measure of consciousness, said that his chest was hurting, and returned to unconsciousness.

SA Montoya then made a decision that probably saved Mr. Armet's life. With the help of a couple of the other Americans present, he loaded Mr. Armet into his car and took off for the hospital.

"We were met at the San Gregorio hospital and were helped by hospital personnel to unload and tend to Mr. Armet," SA Montoya said in his report.

"At the hospital, I translated between the medical personnel and Mr. Armet when he briefly regained consciousness. Mr. Armet said he needed his medicine, that his chest hurt and that a female wearing a yellow shirt had put something into his drink."

Minutes later, Colonel Lopez arrived at the hospital, just as Ecuadorian medical personnel began prepping Mr. Armet for an IV.

Mr. Buwi informed SA Montoya that he had not seen anyone matching the description of a woman in a yellow shirt while they were at the club. He also told SA Montoya that Mr. Armet had not eaten anything for hours, which could have contributed to Mr. Armet's diabetic episode.

Colonel Lopez told SA Montoya at that time that if he had not brought Mr. Armet in when he did, he would have likely choked to death on his own vomit.

"Special Agent Montoya's rapid response allowed for vital medical intervention," Colonel Lopez said. "This is representative of the conscientious and diligent manner in which he performs his job."

With his job accomplished, SA Montoya decided that it was time for him to go.

"After, I was assured by the docs that he was going to make it and he was stable, I thanked God for his help, and pressed on," he said.

Around 6 a.m. that same day, Colonel Lopez called SA Montoya to tell him that Mr. Armet was in stable condition and that they had performed drug tests, which came up negative.

Looking back, Mr. Armet said he remembered much of the night leading up to his diabetic episode. He said it was the worst he'd ever been and was convinced that he was going to die that night.

"At first my face felt numb and then my shoulders felt very numb along with my hands tingling," he said. "My chest was hurting, and I thought I was having a heart attack."

After the two Navy members and his friend brought him outside, they unsuccessfully attempted to give him water and juice. The Navy members attempted rescue breathing exercises, but it didn't seem to help.

While Mr. Armet gives plenty of credit for his survival to his friend and the two sailors, he said that he would have not made it without SA Montoya's timely arrival and actions.

"I appreciate what he did that night," Mr. Armet said. "I owe him a lot. Without him, I would have come home in a body bag for sure."

Lieutenant Colonel Jared Curtis, the 478th EOS commander, said in an email to AFOSI that SA Montoya's actions that evening were indicative of the "over and above" work that he does on a regular basis.

"I consider myself very fortunate to have Chris here," Colonel Curtis said. "There are others who think just as highly of Chris, such as the chief of police in Manta, FP detachment and attaché offices at the embassy."

Mr. Armet said that SA Montoya appeared to be very well trained, alert and knew exactly what to do in the situation.

"He is a great person," Mr. Armet said. "He will always be in my heart."