thedrifter
06-04-07, 06:30 AM
War Story: SSG Daniel Hernandez
Serving his Community & Country
Jill Hanks
12 News
Jun. 1, 2007 05:05 PM
Daniel Hernandez says it was a no-brainer for him to join the military. He can trace the desire all the way back to when he was just 6 or 7 years old and saw John Wayne as Sergeant John Stryker in "Sands of Iwo Jima."
He tried to enlist in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 but his parents wouldn't sign the paperwork, so he had to wait until he turned 18. He says he was hoping for opportunities, training, camaraderie, and a college education.
He followed through, after his time with the Marines, and graduated from Arizona State University in 1993. He joined the Tempe Fire Department three years later, and is now a Firefighter/Paramedic. Through the years, he says, he always had the itch to re-enlist and after the attack on America on 9-11, he did so.
Within 10 months of re-enlisting with the Marine Corps, Hernandez, now a Staff Sergeant, volunteered to go to Iraq, where he was a Motor Transportation Platoon Sergeant, in charge up 30 Marines. Their convoys took supplies from their base at Al Taqaddum to other camps in the Al Anbar Province, in places like Fallujah and Ramadi.
"It was very dangerous every time we'd go outside of the wire," Hernandez says and then uses Wayne's famous quote from "Sands of Iwo Jima, "Time to 'lock and load,' make sure you're ready to go, you have your head on a swivel making sure the guys next to you are doing their job, protecting you."
One of the toughest days in Iraq, was November 8, 2004, when Hernandez lost 4 fellow Marines in two separate incidents. Before Dawn, two Marines were killed as they tried to fortify a position for the day's battle.
Later that day, two more Marines were killed when their convoy drove past a roadside bomb.
"I probably think about it at least once a day, about how fortunate I am," Hernandez says. At the time though, he says you have to "put it in the back of your mind. You do the best you can, prepare for the worst, hope for the best."
Two days later the same group of Marines were hit with IEDs again. "We saw about 9 of them go off, we all drove through it one piece."
Hernandez says the highlight of his time in Iraq was a mission in Fallujah to help the city rebuild after the battle in November 2004, and to set up humanitarian aid sites and voting sites.
Hernandez says his time in Iraq has affected his daily life. He finds himself analyzing his surroundings, especially in crowded areas, making sure his back is covered and that he knows where the exits are. But over time it subsides and he's thrilled to be back home with his wife and baby girl.
"Being able to wake up every morning, being 6 feet above ground," he says, "Anything on top of that is icing on the cake."
Ellie
Serving his Community & Country
Jill Hanks
12 News
Jun. 1, 2007 05:05 PM
Daniel Hernandez says it was a no-brainer for him to join the military. He can trace the desire all the way back to when he was just 6 or 7 years old and saw John Wayne as Sergeant John Stryker in "Sands of Iwo Jima."
He tried to enlist in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 but his parents wouldn't sign the paperwork, so he had to wait until he turned 18. He says he was hoping for opportunities, training, camaraderie, and a college education.
He followed through, after his time with the Marines, and graduated from Arizona State University in 1993. He joined the Tempe Fire Department three years later, and is now a Firefighter/Paramedic. Through the years, he says, he always had the itch to re-enlist and after the attack on America on 9-11, he did so.
Within 10 months of re-enlisting with the Marine Corps, Hernandez, now a Staff Sergeant, volunteered to go to Iraq, where he was a Motor Transportation Platoon Sergeant, in charge up 30 Marines. Their convoys took supplies from their base at Al Taqaddum to other camps in the Al Anbar Province, in places like Fallujah and Ramadi.
"It was very dangerous every time we'd go outside of the wire," Hernandez says and then uses Wayne's famous quote from "Sands of Iwo Jima, "Time to 'lock and load,' make sure you're ready to go, you have your head on a swivel making sure the guys next to you are doing their job, protecting you."
One of the toughest days in Iraq, was November 8, 2004, when Hernandez lost 4 fellow Marines in two separate incidents. Before Dawn, two Marines were killed as they tried to fortify a position for the day's battle.
Later that day, two more Marines were killed when their convoy drove past a roadside bomb.
"I probably think about it at least once a day, about how fortunate I am," Hernandez says. At the time though, he says you have to "put it in the back of your mind. You do the best you can, prepare for the worst, hope for the best."
Two days later the same group of Marines were hit with IEDs again. "We saw about 9 of them go off, we all drove through it one piece."
Hernandez says the highlight of his time in Iraq was a mission in Fallujah to help the city rebuild after the battle in November 2004, and to set up humanitarian aid sites and voting sites.
Hernandez says his time in Iraq has affected his daily life. He finds himself analyzing his surroundings, especially in crowded areas, making sure his back is covered and that he knows where the exits are. But over time it subsides and he's thrilled to be back home with his wife and baby girl.
"Being able to wake up every morning, being 6 feet above ground," he says, "Anything on top of that is icing on the cake."
Ellie