Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, XVIII Airborne Corps
commander, pins the Bronze Star with Valor on 1st Lt. Luis Reyes,
5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd
Airborne Division, during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., Feb. 12,
2010. |
|
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (ANS, February 16, 2010) Two acts of
bravery saved the life of a Soldier, whom others said most
definitely would have died had it not been for the heroic
action.
On May 17 in the Rusafa district of Baghdad, 1st Lt. Luis
Reyes twice entered a burning Humvee to rescue his injured
gunner, Spc. Robert Mayes. The two men were assigned to the
5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
Not only was their Humvee hit by an improvised explosive
device, but the vehicle began to burn after the ammunition
stored between its rear seats exploded after a projectile
struck it following the first attack, said Col. David
Buckingham, squadron commander of the 73rd Cavalry Regiment.
"There is no question that Lieutenant Reyes' valor in
entering the burning vehicle, then re-entering the vehicle
after the explosion of the ammunition, saved Specialist
Mayes' life," said Buckingham, who pinned the Bronze Star
with Valor medal on Reyes' chest Feb. 12. |
