U.S.
Soldier earns medal for saving 2 airmen after plane crash
Stars and Stripes
June 1, 2018
Col. Keith McKinley presents Sgt. 1st Class Levon Fernandez with the Soldier's Medal on May 7, 2018, at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras. (Martin Chahin/U.S. Army)
Col. Keith McKinley presents Sgt. 1st Class Levon Fernandez with the Soldier's Medal on May 7, 2018, at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras. (Martin Chahin/U.S. Army)
Sgt. 1st Class Levon Fernandez poses for a photo after receiving the Soldier’s Medal at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, May 7, 2018. (Martin Chahin/U.S. Army)
Sgt. 1st Class Levon Fernandez was working as a flight paramedic at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras in 2017 when a Honduras Air Force L410 crashed through power lines and hit a battalion building.
Despite chaos and dangerous, high-voltage debris, Fernandez rushed to the scene and pulled two critically wounded pilots out of the aircraft.
For saving the lives of two airmen that day, the Army awarded Fernandez a Soldier’s Medal, for heroism during an act not involving conflict with an enemy.
Fernandez, with Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, was presented with the medal during a ceremony at Soto Cano Air Base on May 7.
“It’s bittersweet because I wasn’t the only guy there. There were plenty of guys there who were taking just as much risk as I was,” said Fernandez, according to U.S. Southern Command.
Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 1-228 Aviation Regiment, 612th Air Base Squadron and Medical Element personnel also collaborated with local first responders to rescue the injured flight crew.
“I definitely don’t consider myself a hero. This wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the rest of the Charlie Company and the rest of the 228 guys who were out there, also putting their lives in jeopardy to try to save a life,” Fernandez told U.S. Southern Command.