JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
“He was a gift to us,” said Mario Ramon during a classroom dedication ceremony on the Medical Education and Training Campus at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston for a fellow Department of Combat Medic Training, or DCMT, instructor who passed away Sept. 1.
EMT3 Room 340 was dedicated Sept. 29 as the Joseph B. “JB” Slye classroom. A plaque now hangs on the wall outside the classroom door to honor this outstanding teacher and his incredible ability to help Soldier Medics reach success.
Ramon and others talked about how Slye was a man of many talents, liked to talk and loved to make people laugh. He was, according to many who knew him, larger than life. But most of all, the 56-year-old father and husband was passionate about teaching Soldier Medics, and always went above and beyond to help others.
The latter was evident in his role as a volunteer firefighter for the Medina, Ohio, Fire Department. He retired at the rank of captain before moving to San Antonio to begin his new role at DCMT as an emergency
medical technician, or EMT, instructor.
Slye had taught thousands of medics since coming to DCMT in 2004. He frequently volunteered to tutor those having difficulty passing the National Registry of EMTs certifying examination, a requirement needed to graduate.