OT - Profiles of Valor - US Army Sgt. Hernandez

[Ysabel Kid]

Profiles of valor: United States Army Sgt. Hernandez

United States Army Sgt. Omar Hernandez came to America from Mexico with his family when he was six months old. He joined the Army Reserve when he was 19, deploying to Iraq in 2003. He changed to the regular Army in 2004 and returned to Iraq as an infantryman, earning his citizenship after his second tour. On 6 June 2007, during his third tour in Iraq as part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Hernandez, three other American soldiers and nine Iraqis left Joint Security Station "Maverick" in Ghazaliya on a census patrol.
Just outside the station, however, the team was ambushed. Two Iraqi police were immediately shot. Hernandez returned fire, but was soon shot in the thigh himself. He later said it was "like Forrest Gump -- where he goes, 'Somethin' jumped up and bit me.'" Indeed -- the bullet entered the back and exited the front, just missing his femoral artery, but taking a third of his quadriceps with it. Despite his wound, Hernandez made it to the intersection where the two Iraqi police officers were down, dragging one 15 feet to safety. He then went back for the second, picking him up and carrying him on his shoulder. Hernandez made sure first aid was administered and then resumed firing on the enemy, only later accepting treatment himself. His actions saved the lives of the two Iraqis that day. "I couldn't let anyone die out there," he said. For his heroism, Hernandez received the Silver Star.

[piller]

Sgt. Hernandez, I salute you.

[Jaguarundi]

Above and beyond the call.

[papasan]

What a fine example. he comes to
America with his parents. Grows up,
and at 19 decides to serve this
nation. He earns his citizenship
and values it. A true American is
not always one born in this country.

Sgt Hernandez, thank you for your
service to America. I have the feeling he would just say...I was
only doing my job.Again, thank you!

papasan

[Borregos]

Thanks for posting that.

[C. Cash]

What a fine example. he comes to
America with his parents. Grows up,
and at 19 decides to serve this
nation. He earns his citizenship
and values it. A true American is
not always one born in this country.

Sgt Hernandez, thank you for your
service to America. I have the feeling he would just say...I was
only doing my job.Again, thank you!

papasan

+1!!!!!!

[jd45]

Talk about assimilation into the American culture! My hat's off to him AND his parents. jd45

[gamekeeper]

A well deserved Silver Star.

[JReed]

You know what bugs me. Not the fact that he is a credit to the Army but the fact that if it had been WWII he would have gotten the Medal of Honor.

[Ysabel Kid]

You know what bugs me. Not the fact that he is a credit to the Army but the fact that if it had been WWII he would have gotten the Medal of Honor.

He probably deserved the MOH, but I'm not sure he would have gotten it in WWII. My uncles treated and evacuated two fellow soldiers while under intense small arms fire while in Germany. He was wounded, but still got the men out. His captain put him in for a Silver Star, but the brass knocked it down to a bronze star. He didn't care - was just glad two men made it another day.