YORKTOWN, Va. - Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Roy Jaquez was awarded the Soldier’s Medal Dec. 13 for his acts of heroism in Afghanistan.
Jaquez helped save the lives of three crewmembers May 3, 2010, when a commercial Russian Mi - 17 Heavy Lift Transportation helicopter fell from the sky at Forward Operating Base Kala Gush, in Nuristan province, Afghanistan. Jaquez and four other service members kicked in the cockpit glass and pulled the three crewmen to safety, dodging rocks, earth and parts of the helicopter kicked up from the spinning rotors.
“These guys were doing this while the engines were still running, and hot exhaust shooting out at them,” said Capt. Raymond Benedict, commanding officer of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan.
After the crash, one of the helicopter’s fuel tanks ruptured spilling highly flammable aviation fuel around the wreckage and threatening a massive explosion but this didn’t stop Jaquez and the other responders.
“They were able to get the three crew members out within three minutes of the crash,” said Benedict.
Thanks to the heroic efforts of Jaquez and the others, injured crewmen were pulled to safety and medevaced to a medical facility within an hour of the crash eventually making a full recovery from their injuries.
“When I found out that they were all going to be OK, that was the happiest moment for me,” said Jaquez.
“The way that everyone responded in such a heroic fashion was inspiring, it was the most awesome thing I have ever seen in my career in the Navy,” said Benedict. “I cannot underestimate the reaction of those guys who ran toward the wreckage, I was there and I saw it, it was incredible.”
According to Jaquez, being awarded for his actions is an honor and extremely humbling.
“I never expected to be put in a situation like this when I joined the Navy,” said Jaquez. “If there is someone who is hurt I have to go help them because that is what corpsman do.”
Jaquez is among a select few sailors to be awarded the Soldier’s Medal. The Soldier’s Medal was authorized by Congress July 2, 1926, and is the highest non-combat medal awarded for heroism.
Notable recipients of the Soldier's Medal include Colin Powell, who was awarded the decoration during his second tour in Vietnam (1968-69). Other recipients include 28 people who risked their lives following the terrorist attack on the Pentagon in 2001.
Jaquez is currently assigned to Riverine Squadron 3, part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.
| Date Taken: | 12.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.13.2011 17:14 |
| Story ID: | 81319 |
| Location: | YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 204 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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