A couple weeks ago, when floodwaters stranded a soldier and his family in Hopkinsville, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Quinlan didn’t hesitate—he grabbed a kayak.
From Fort Campbell’s 49th Ordnance Company (EOD), Quinlan paddled more than 200 yards through chest-deep floodwaters to deliver groceries—after hearing the family was running low on essentials.
With help from his platoon leader, 1st Lt. Sean Barrett, Quinlan loaded the kayak with groceries including milk, meat, eggs, and fruit, and made the delivery in a single trip.
Quinlan said the waters were “gross and stagnant, full of trash and sewage,” and as such, wading or swimming wasn’t an option.
After delivering the supplies, the soldier met Quinlan with a pull wagon to transfer the groceries, and pushed him back out for the return paddle.
A former Marine and San Diego native, Quinlan joked about his “amphibious” past, but said the real story is the outpouring of support from Fort Campbell soldiers helping their community.
Quinlan, who deployed to Syria in 2023, said he was drawn to EOD for its mission of saving lives and supporting the force.
The full story can be found here:
