thedrifter
11-22-08, 07:10 AM
Marine saves life three weeks after getting out of boot camp
The 18-year-old Lake Forest Marine is to receive an Navy Marine award for heroism in a non-combat situation.
By ERIKA I. RITCHIE
The Orange County Register
LAKE FOREST — Pvt. Joshua Hernandez had only been a Marine for three weeks when he saved his first civilian.
As he and other Marines banged on the doors of the burning America's Best Value Inn Nov. 9, Hernandez, 18, of Lake Forest saw an elderly man huddled in a ball on his bed. Flames and smoke engulfed the room. Parts of the ceiling were coming down as embers.
"I told him he had to get out," said Hernandez. "He yelled 'I'm not getting out, I'm not moving from this spot.' Smoke was in my face. I closed my eyes and grabbed him. After I got him out of the room, he called out to me 'God bless you, Marines. Thank God you were here.'"
Hernandez, his twin brother, Pfc. Jeremy Hernandez, 18, and six other Marines were honored Thursday by the Orange County Fire Authority for their bravery and quick action during a recent potentially catastrophic fire at the motel in Lake Forest.
"They were truly heroes on that day as they are every day for America," said Todd McKay of Buena Park, OCFA board chairman.
OCFA Certificates of Heroism were also given to Pvt. John Mick,18, of Brush, Colo., Pfc. Adam Reidling, 19, of Lake Forest, Pfc. Thomas O'Brien, 19, of Irving, Texas, Pfc. Jed Stock, 19, of Ramona, Pfc. Jessie McLaughlin, 19, of Salem, Ore., and Pvt. Colton Oliver, 18, of Hampton, Ark., all assigned to Company B, Infantry Training Battalion.
The Marine Corps will also award Joshua Hernandez a Navy and Marine Corps medal rarely given out. The medal honors those who saved lives in non-combat situations. Hernandez is the youngest to receive the medal.
The Marines received a standing ovation from OCFA officials, board members and those who attended the board meeting. U.S. Marine Corps officers and family members attended the event.
"I felt really good to have saved another person's life even though I'm just starting my training as a Marine," said Hernandez, who joined the corps after his twin brother extolled its values both physical and mental. "I see all the ranks the CO's have and I want to attain those ranks."
All eight were staying at America's Best Value Inn when electrical failure on the second floor appears to have sparked a fire, leaving more than 50 people without a place to stay.
The Marines, who had celebrated the Marine Corps 233rd birthday party at the Hernandezes' family home, were in their rooms when the fire broke out. O'Brien was the first to spot the flames spreading along the second-story balcony.
"He came to our room and yelled 'Get your stuff and get out,'" said Reidling. "We poked our heads out and saw the fire along the balcony. We noticed no one else was doing anything so we just started running door-to-door. When people came to their doors, they seemed tired at first but we told them, 'The hotel's on fire, get out.'"
Reidling, an Eagle Scout and graduate of El Toro High, said the fire spread quickly, engulfing the motel. Eventually, it would burn down one building and cause $5 million in damages.
"They huddled as a team," said OCFA Capt. Greg McKeown. "Six were going to do evacuations and two were going to help traffic get out of the parking lot. They ran door-to-door advising the guests of the fire. It was a very large fire, and if it hadn't been for the Marines, there's a good chance some of them wouldn't have gotten out."
USMC Capt. Justin Lokkesmoe, commanding officer of Bravo Company Infantry Training Battalion at the School of Infantry West at Camp Pendleton, commended the actions of his men.
"I'm incredibly proud of these Marines," he said. "They did what any Marine would have done in a bad situation. Their training as Marines and their individual character caused them to go in where they knew there was danger and make sure civilians were safe."
Lokkesmoe said he used the group of eights' actions as a training tool for the 282-member strong company.
"I told them if they find themselves in a similar situation, I expect them to act like Marines and make the best of a bad situation," said Lokkesmoe.
Chris Hernandez, mother of Joshua and Jeremy, credits the Marine Corps training for her sons' heroic acts.
Six months ago, she wouldn't have imagined her sons involved in this kind of situation. Joshua lacked self confidence, but through boot camp, he not only learned the necessary skills but lost 72 pounds. Jeremy was cocky, she said, and the Corps has changed that.
Both boys, graduates of Silverado High, convinced their parents to let them join by bringing recruiters into their Lake Forest home.
At first their parents said "No." Now they say it has changed their families' life.
"I just think it's amazing what all the young men did, not just my boys," she said. "I thank the Marine Corps for that. They went in as boys and came out as men. We have such a great relationship now."
Contact the writer: 949-454-7307 or eritchie@ocregister.com
Ellie
The 18-year-old Lake Forest Marine is to receive an Navy Marine award for heroism in a non-combat situation.
By ERIKA I. RITCHIE
The Orange County Register
LAKE FOREST — Pvt. Joshua Hernandez had only been a Marine for three weeks when he saved his first civilian.
As he and other Marines banged on the doors of the burning America's Best Value Inn Nov. 9, Hernandez, 18, of Lake Forest saw an elderly man huddled in a ball on his bed. Flames and smoke engulfed the room. Parts of the ceiling were coming down as embers.
"I told him he had to get out," said Hernandez. "He yelled 'I'm not getting out, I'm not moving from this spot.' Smoke was in my face. I closed my eyes and grabbed him. After I got him out of the room, he called out to me 'God bless you, Marines. Thank God you were here.'"
Hernandez, his twin brother, Pfc. Jeremy Hernandez, 18, and six other Marines were honored Thursday by the Orange County Fire Authority for their bravery and quick action during a recent potentially catastrophic fire at the motel in Lake Forest.
"They were truly heroes on that day as they are every day for America," said Todd McKay of Buena Park, OCFA board chairman.
OCFA Certificates of Heroism were also given to Pvt. John Mick,18, of Brush, Colo., Pfc. Adam Reidling, 19, of Lake Forest, Pfc. Thomas O'Brien, 19, of Irving, Texas, Pfc. Jed Stock, 19, of Ramona, Pfc. Jessie McLaughlin, 19, of Salem, Ore., and Pvt. Colton Oliver, 18, of Hampton, Ark., all assigned to Company B, Infantry Training Battalion.
The Marine Corps will also award Joshua Hernandez a Navy and Marine Corps medal rarely given out. The medal honors those who saved lives in non-combat situations. Hernandez is the youngest to receive the medal.
The Marines received a standing ovation from OCFA officials, board members and those who attended the board meeting. U.S. Marine Corps officers and family members attended the event.
"I felt really good to have saved another person's life even though I'm just starting my training as a Marine," said Hernandez, who joined the corps after his twin brother extolled its values both physical and mental. "I see all the ranks the CO's have and I want to attain those ranks."
All eight were staying at America's Best Value Inn when electrical failure on the second floor appears to have sparked a fire, leaving more than 50 people without a place to stay.
The Marines, who had celebrated the Marine Corps 233rd birthday party at the Hernandezes' family home, were in their rooms when the fire broke out. O'Brien was the first to spot the flames spreading along the second-story balcony.
"He came to our room and yelled 'Get your stuff and get out,'" said Reidling. "We poked our heads out and saw the fire along the balcony. We noticed no one else was doing anything so we just started running door-to-door. When people came to their doors, they seemed tired at first but we told them, 'The hotel's on fire, get out.'"
Reidling, an Eagle Scout and graduate of El Toro High, said the fire spread quickly, engulfing the motel. Eventually, it would burn down one building and cause $5 million in damages.
"They huddled as a team," said OCFA Capt. Greg McKeown. "Six were going to do evacuations and two were going to help traffic get out of the parking lot. They ran door-to-door advising the guests of the fire. It was a very large fire, and if it hadn't been for the Marines, there's a good chance some of them wouldn't have gotten out."
USMC Capt. Justin Lokkesmoe, commanding officer of Bravo Company Infantry Training Battalion at the School of Infantry West at Camp Pendleton, commended the actions of his men.
"I'm incredibly proud of these Marines," he said. "They did what any Marine would have done in a bad situation. Their training as Marines and their individual character caused them to go in where they knew there was danger and make sure civilians were safe."
Lokkesmoe said he used the group of eights' actions as a training tool for the 282-member strong company.
"I told them if they find themselves in a similar situation, I expect them to act like Marines and make the best of a bad situation," said Lokkesmoe.
Chris Hernandez, mother of Joshua and Jeremy, credits the Marine Corps training for her sons' heroic acts.
Six months ago, she wouldn't have imagined her sons involved in this kind of situation. Joshua lacked self confidence, but through boot camp, he not only learned the necessary skills but lost 72 pounds. Jeremy was cocky, she said, and the Corps has changed that.
Both boys, graduates of Silverado High, convinced their parents to let them join by bringing recruiters into their Lake Forest home.
At first their parents said "No." Now they say it has changed their families' life.
"I just think it's amazing what all the young men did, not just my boys," she said. "I thank the Marine Corps for that. They went in as boys and came out as men. We have such a great relationship now."
Contact the writer: 949-454-7307 or eritchie@ocregister.com
Ellie