The aide to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who made a 911 call to request an ambulance for the top official early this month requested that the dispatchers work to be “subtle” when they arrived at his residence, according to an audio recording of the Jan. 1 911 call exclusively obtained by The Daily Beast.

“Can I ask—can the ambulance not show up with lights and sirens? Uhm, we’re trying to remain a little subtle,” the aide said, according to the recording, which The Daily Beast obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in the state of Virginia. …

Austin’s name and title are redacted on the call, but based on the timing and location—the secretary of defense’s residence—the call can reasonably be assessed to be about his complications.

[As someone who’s had to make more than one 911 call for medical emergencies, I can tell you that it doesn’t make any difference if the lights and sirens are off, or what time of the day it is. The neighbors will notice it, every single time. It’s pretty remarkable that this was the priority for the aide on this call rather than speed and urgency for his boss’ assistance. — Ed]